Accident Details
A pilot reported that during a touch-and-go landing, he inadvertently raised the landing gear control lever instead of the flap control lever. After a successful landing, the pilot intended to raise the flaps but, without looking, raised what he thought was the flap lever. He realized the mistake only after the aircraft began to settle. The aircraft came to a stop on the grass on the right side of the runway with the landing gear retracted.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had a total flight time of 1,193 hours, of which only 4 hours were in the accident make and model aircraft. He stated that his flight experience and habits had been developed in aircraft with a different configuration of flap and gear handles.
Probable Cause
The probable cause is the pilot's inadvertent selection of the landing gear control lever instead of the flap control lever, resulting from his familiarity with a different control configuration.