What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 7/24/2010 N601CX an experimental amateur built aircraft, model zodiac 601XL, serial number: 6-4842, piloted by privacy data omitted, departed a private 2,600 foot grass runway owned by privacy data omitted, located in Kannapolis, NC. Just after departure, while on a 310° track, the aircraft impacted a large oak tree and came to rest in a wooded area approximately 1,900 feet from where the aircraft first left the runway. The primary abnormality found after examination of the wreckage was that water was found in the fuel lines and fuel strainer. When the PIC was interviewed, he stated that he did not recall if he had taken a fuel sample as required by the AFM during preflight. Additionally, the PIC stated that he had flew about 45 minutes (14A-IPJ-ferrel James pvt) on the left tank and just prior his last take-off before the accident he had switched to the right tank.
As the FAA filed it
ON 7/24/2010 N601CX AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT, MODEL ZODIAC 601XL, SERIAL NUMBER: 6-4842, PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, DEPARTED A PRIVATE 2,600 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY OWNED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, LOCATED IN KANNAPOLIS, NC. JUST AFTER DEPARTURE, WHILE ON A 310° TRACK, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A LARGE OAK TREE AND CAME TO REST IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY 1,900 FEET FROM WHERE THE AIRCRAFT FIRST LEFT THE RUNWAY. THE PRIMARY ABNORMALITY FOUND AFTER EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS THAT WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES AND FUEL STRAINER. WHEN THE PIC WAS INTERVIEWED, HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT RECALL IF HE HAD TAKEN A FUEL SAMPLE AS REQUIRED BY THE AFM DURING PREFLIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE PIC STATED THAT HE HAD FLEW ABOUT 45 MINUTES (14A-IPJ-FERREL JAMES PVT) ON THE LEFT TANK AND JUST PRIOR HIS LAST TAKE-OFF BEFORE THE ACCIDENT HE HAD SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.