Flight History
On 29 March 2003, at approximately 1229 UTC, a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle, registration G-SAIR, was conducting a private flight from Humberside International Airport, North Lincolnshire. About 50 minutes after departure, the aircraft returned to the airport for circuit work. It was cleared for a touch-and-go landing on Runway 21. The landing was firm but otherwise uneventful. As the aircraft accelerated for takeoff, two large puffs of grey smoke were observed near the mainwheels just before rotation, and both propellers struck the runway surface.
The aircraft lifted off and immediately began to yaw and roll to the left, reaching an estimated maximum left bank of 90 degrees. The bank reduced slightly before the left wing tip struck the ground. The aircraft then cartwheeled across the grass south of the runway and burst into flames.
Occupants and Injuries
There were three persons on board: the owner occupied the left pilot's seat; a flight instructor occupied the right pilot's seat; and a flight examiner occupied a passenger seat in the cabin. The owner and instructor escaped from the wreckage. The flight examiner was unable to vacate the aircraft and subsequently died of injuries sustained in the post-impact fire. The owner sustained serious injuries and the instructor minor injuries.
Investigation
An engineering investigation of the wreckage found no fault with the aircraft that might have caused the accident. Examination of the propellers, engines, landing gear, flap system, weight-on-wheels safety switch, and landing gear warning horn revealed no pre-existing defects. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
Probable Cause
The investigation concluded that the most probable cause was an inadvertent retraction of the landing gear while the aircraft was still on the ground.