On May 19, 1965, a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (registration N107RS) operated by Hansen Air Activities was involved in an aviation accident near Chicago-Midway, United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot accidentally retracted the landing gear while the aircraft was still accelerating on the runway. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft sustained heavy damage after the pilot retracted the landing gear during the takeoff roll at Chicago-Midway Airport.
What happened
While performing a takeoff roll at Chicago-Midway Airport, an aircraft experienced a significant mechanical incident involving its undercarriage. During the initial phase of the takeoff, the pilot accidentally engaged the retraction mechanism for the landing gear while the plane was still in motion on the runway.
As a result of this action, the aircraft's structure settled onto the ground surface. The movement caused the plane to slide across the pavement for several yards before it finally came to a stop. Although the pilot escaped the incident without any injuries, the impact and subsequent sliding resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair.
Findings
Investigations into the event concluded that the primary factor was the premature retraction of the undercarriage during the takeoff sequence.
Probable cause
The pilot accidentally retracted the landing gear while the aircraft was still accelerating on the runway.