# NTSB GAA15CA020: Cessna 150, N7987E, Flushing, MI, March 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2015, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Flushing, MI - Coordinates: 43, -83 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0000&lon=-83.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90929/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90929 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA020 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7987E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7987E-2015-07-20), registration cancelled 2015-07-20, S/N 17787, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17787 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 3141 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas Carr - Registered owner: Thomas Carr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 25, 2014, 3 hours before - Departed: 3DA, Dalton, MI - Destination: KPTK, Waterford, MI - Airport: 3DA, Dalton, runway 36, 2,510 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 19, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 603 total, 557 in this make and model, 581 as pilot in command, 1.7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KFNT, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150324004259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150324004259A), Mar 24, 2015: Cessna 150, Flushing, MI, Destroyed. On March 13, 2015 the pilot fueled N7987E adding 10 gallons of 100LL. While fueling the pilot noticed that the fuel did not look right so fueling was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90929. 7.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record - METAR KFNT Flint, MI (item 4, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426875&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20METAR%20KFNT%20Flint,%20MI-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.