What happened
During a routine local training flight operating out of Shannon Airport, an incident occurred involving the accidental retraction of the landing gear. The crew had been performing a series of touch-and-go maneuvers when the pilot completed a standard landing. As the aircraft was being prepared for its subsequent takeoff, a member of the crew unintentionally raised the undercarriage.
Without the support of the landing gear, the aircraft settled onto its belly upon contact with the runway surface. The impact caused the plane to slide several yards along the pavement before coming to a halt at the left edge of the runway. Upon stopping, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Although the aircraft was destroyed in the fire, all six crew members managed to evacuate the wreckage without injury.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the operational errors made during the flight. The primary cause of the gear retraction was attributed to poor crew coordination. Additionally, investigators noted that inadequate flight preparation and a lack of experience on the part of the pilot played significant roles in the sequence of events.