Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's report, during the initial climb after takeoff, he noted the indicated airspeed at 105 knots as normal and reached down to retract the landing gear. He glanced down to ensure he had grabbed the landing gear selector, and when he looked back outside, the airplane was near the runway. The pilot then pulled back hard on the yoke, but the propellers struck the runway, the airplane settled onto the runway, and it skidded into the grass to the left.
Pilot's Report
The pilot reported additional factors on the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1. He stated that the airplane was not high enough above the ground to raise the gear, and he may have relaxed back-pressure on the yoke after rotation. He also noted that when leaning slightly forward for the gear handle, the yoke may have been pushed forward slightly.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported that would have precluded normal operation.
Relevant Guidance
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook advises that premature landing gear retraction should be avoided, and the landing gear should not be retracted until a positive rate of climb is indicated on the flight instruments. The handbook also notes that leaning forward to reach the landing gear selector may result in inadvertent forward pressure on the yoke, which could cause the airplane to descend.