Accident Overview
The pilot was conducting touch and go landings in the local landing pattern. After touchdown during the third landing, he added power for takeoff and intended to raise the flap lever. However, he inadvertently raised the landing gear lever. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded off the runway.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had a total of 697 hours of flight time. Of those, 676 hours were flown in a Beech Bonanza, and only 16 hours were logged in the Cessna 401. In the 90 days prior to the accident, he had accumulated a total of 2 hours of flight time, all in the Bonanza. The landing gear lever on the Cessna 401 is located where the flap lever is on the Bonanza, which likely contributed to the confusion.
Sequence of Events
During the third landing, after touchdown, the pilot added takeoff power and moved what he believed to be the flap lever. Instead, he retracted the landing gear lever. The right main landing gear then collapsed, causing the aircraft to skid off the runway. No further details about injuries, damage, or other factors are available.