Approach and Touchdown
The pilot flew for approximately 35 minutes before entering a left downwind for the intended destination. While on downwind and abeam the numbers, the pilot reduced throttle and configured the airplane with 10 degrees of flaps. He turned final at about 500 feet above ground level (agl) and half a mile from the runway. On final, he set 30 degrees of flaps and slowed to 70 mph.
The airplane crossed the approach end of the runway, and the pilot initiated a flare. At that point, he reported that "everything was normal," and the airplane touched down smoothly, tail wheel first.
Directional Control Issues
After touchdown, the nose of the airplane started to drift to the right. The pilot applied "hard left rudder," and the nose moved from the right side of the centerline to the left side. As the airplane approached the left side of the runway, the pilot elected to abort the landing.
Aborted Landing and Impact
The pilot advanced the throttle; the engine responded, and the airplane yawed further left while becoming airborne. The airplane continued to drift left until it impacted trees, coming to rest upright.