Incident Details
On an unspecified date, a pilot flying an amphibious aircraft departed Salisbury, Maryland at approximately 1135 Eastern Daylight Time. En route, the pilot was advised by air traffic control of weather conditions at the intended destination. Subsequently, the pilot decided to attempt a precautionary landing at a private grass airstrip he had located.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft approached the grass airstrip, the pilot observed a balloon at midfield and executed a go-around. During the climbout, the pilot lost sight of the landing field and circled for several minutes while weather conditions deteriorated. The pilot then attempted to land on a gravel road. While on approach, the pilot observed wires ahead and added full power for another go-around. The amphibious aircraft missed the wires to the front, but a wing struck a utility pole guy wire. The aircraft spun around and came to rest nose-up against a utility pole.
Post-Accident Information
The pilot later told a state trooper that he had attempted the landing because he felt he was getting low on fuel. Examination of the aircraft after the incident revealed approximately 2 gallons of fuel on board, with no evidence of leakage found.
Source
This article is based on a factual account from an official aviation safety investigation.