N7987E

Substantial
Minor

CESSNA 150S/N: 17787

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
NTSB Number
GAA15CA020
Location
Flushing, MI
Event ID
20150325X74504
Coordinates
43.000000, -83.000000
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

Loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N7987E
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17787
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1959
Model / ICAO
150C150
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
CARR THOMAS W
Address
7048 PERRY RD
Status
Deregistered
City
GRAND BLANC
State / Zip Code
MI 48439-9778
Country
United States

Analysis

During a preflight examination, the pilot identified fuel contamination from water, in his airplane's fuel tanks. He removed approximately one quart of water each from the right wing, left wing, belly drain and engine strainer. He thought he removed all the water from the fuel system and started the engine. He performed an engine run up at twenty-two hundred revolutions per minute. After a five minute engine run, the pilot decided the airplane was suitable for flight and initiated a take-off. Upon reaching an altitude of four hundred feet, the engine lost power. He entered an emergency descent and forced landing, subsequently impacting several trees and eventually the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to wings, fuselage, and empennage.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA15CA020