What happened
On 17 July 2011, a Yakovlev-Yak-52, registration ZU-RUS, was conducting a local private flight departing from and returning to Pietersburg Civil Aerodrome. During the landing roll on Runway 26, the pilot mistakenly operated the landing gear lever instead of the flap lever.
This error caused the main landing gear to retract while the aircraft was still in motion. As a result, the aircraft skidded on its tail and veered toward the right side of the runway. The aircraft eventually came to a halt on the grass adjacent to the runway. Because the nose gear remained extended, the propeller blades did not strike the ground, preventing further damage.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the aircraft was in a serviceable condition prior to departure and possessed a valid authority to fly. The weather at the time of the incident was clear with good visibility and light winds.
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing roll, confirming that the pilot's manual input was the primary driver of the event. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, specifically to the rudder, the tail section, the wing tips, and both ailerons. The pilot, who was the owner of the aircraft, was uninjured and able to evacuate the cockpit without difficulty.