What happened
While performing a second touch-and-go landing on runway 35, the pilot of a Beechcraft Baron lowered the landing gear and observed a green light indication, signifying the gear was safe. The aircraft subsequently made a wheels-up landing on the runway. Following a smooth touchdown, the pilot raised the flaps as part of the process to clean up the airplane for takeoff. During this phase, the pilot's attention was diverted, leading to a loss of directional control as the aircraft became airborne again.
The investigation
An examination of the cockpit revealed that the landing gear selector was in the up position, while the flap control remained in the down position. Technical information provided by a Beech Aircraft Corporation spokesperson noted that the 95-C55 Baron is equipped with a squat switch on the main landing gear. This mechanism is designed to prevent inadvertent gear retraction as long as weight is applied to the struts; however, the gear is capable of retracting once that weight is removed.