Overview
A training flight at Shannon Airport ended with the aircraft being destroyed by fire after an inadvertent landing gear retraction. The incident occurred during a local training mission involving several touch-and-go maneuvers.
Sequence of Events
According to the investigation, the pilot performed a normal landing following several touch-and-go maneuvers and prepared for another takeoff. At that point, one of the crew members inadvertently raised the undercarriage. The airplane sank onto its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames on the left edge of the runway.
All six crew members were evacuated safely. The aircraft was destroyed by the fire.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation identified three contributing factors: poor crew coordination, poor flight preparation, and lack of pilot experience.