What happened
During the landing roll, the nose of the airplane dropped unexpectedly. The propeller struck the runway surface, and the airplane skidded to a stop. A subsequent inspection of the airplane revealed that all three landing gear had retracted, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that he inadvertently retracted the landing gear, instead of the flaps, during the landing roll.
The investigation
A post-accident examination confirmed that the landing gear mechanism was fully retracted. This mechanical configuration was inconsistent with a normal landing procedure, where the gear should remain extended to support the aircraft's weight on the ground.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's failure to maintain proper control of the landing gear lever. By moving the lever intended for flap extension, the pilot caused the gear to retract while the aircraft was still in contact with the runway. This error led to the nose dropping and the propeller striking the ground.