Accident Details
A practice touch-and-go landing was being conducted on Runway 15. Winds were reported as gusting to 20 knots. During the takeoff portion of the maneuver, the wing flaps would not retract, and the aircraft climbed to 15 feet above ground level. After flying approximately 500 yards with no increase in airspeed or altitude, the pilot attempted to land.
Witnesses reported that the aircraft flew with a nose-high attitude. Subsequently, the right wing dipped and struck the ground. The aircraft then nosed over and came to rest 1,500 feet from the end of the runway.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection revealed that the wing flap circuit breaker was tripped. Additionally, the wing flap actuating switch was found to be reversed. The switch had to be held in the 'up' position to retract the flaps, while it was not necessary to hold the switch down to fully extend the flaps.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that the procedure required to retract the flaps distracted his attention during the takeoff.