On May 17, 2005, a Piper PA-34-220T (registration N4162K) was involved in an aviation accident near Scottsdale, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a touch-and-go, a student pilot inadvertently raised the landing gear handle instead of the flap handle, causing the left main and nose gear to retract. The instructor intervened but could not prevent the retraction. No mechanical issues were found.
Incident Summary
During the takeoff roll of a touch-and-go training maneuver, a student pilot receiving instruction inadvertently operated the landing gear handle instead of the flap handle. As the airplane continued to roll, the left main landing gear and the nose gear retracted. The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he "grabbed the handle immediately when he saw the student retract it," but the retraction had already occurred.
Aircraft Examination
A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the landing gear system. The instructor also reported that no mechanical failures or malfunctions were experienced during the flight.
Additional Details
The incident occurred during a touch-and-go, a common training procedure where an aircraft lands and immediately takes off again. The student likely intended to retract the flaps but mistakenly retracted the landing gear. The CFI's quick action was insufficient to prevent the gear from retracting. The left main and nose gear were the only landing gear that retracted; no information is available regarding the right main gear.