What happened
On March 24, 2015, a Cessna 150, registration N7987E, was involved in an accident near Flushing, Michigan. During the preflight inspection, the pilot discovered water contamination within the aircraft's fuel tanks. In an attempt to rectify the issue, the pilot drained approximately one quart of water from the right wing, left wing, belly drain, and the engine strainer.
Believing the fuel system was clear, the pilot started the engine and conducted a run-up at 2,200 RPM. Following a five-minute engine run, the pilot proceeded with takeoff. While climbing through 400 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot performed an emergency descent and executed a forced landing, during which the aircraft struck several trees before hitting the ground. The impact caused substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot sustained one minor injury and there were no fatalities.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot identified water in the fuel tanks during preflight but did not successfully remove all contaminants from the fuel system before beginning the flight.