Accident Details
On May 19, 2022, a Cessna C-172 RG, registration SP-WLF, was conducting touch-and-go training at EPCD (Depułtycze Królewskie) as part of a CPL course on a complex-type aircraft. During the procedure, the student pilot mistakenly moved the landing gear control lever to the 'gear up' position instead of retracting the flaps. The aircraft was still on the runway at the time. The nose gear, being unloaded, collapsed and the propeller struck the concrete runway surface multiple times, resulting in its destruction. The instructor then took off but, due to vibrations from the powerplant and unusual noises, performed a straight-ahead landing. The aircraft, with both main and nose gear fully retracted, came to a stop on the runway, sustaining serious damage. No fire occurred. The crew was uninjured.
Cause
The cause of the accident was the student pilot's error of confusing the flap control lever with the landing gear control lever.
Contributing Factors
A contributing factor may have been the long series of takeoffs and landings—the student had performed 13 traffic patterns immediately prior—which led to routine execution of tasks and possible loss of concentration by both the student and the instructor.
Preventive Measures
The operator proposed the following preventive actions, accepted by the investigation commission: informing instructors and students about this accident; avoiding long series of pattern flights (no more than 10 circuits in a series, or as decided by the instructing instructor); after a series of circuits, transitioning to another exercise to change the cockpit workflow or taking a break; and briefing students before flight on touch-and-go procedures, with instructors paying particular attention to correct student actions during flight.