Accident Overview
On April 8, 2019, at approximately 10:30 UTC, a Cessna 172RG, registration OK-ALZ, operated by Aviatický klub, s.r.o., was conducting a CPL check flight at LKRO (Roudnice Airport). The flight crew consisted of an examiner and a pilot under examination. The aircraft suffered damage after landing with the landing gear retracted during a simulated emergency landing exercise.
Sequence of Events
According to witness statements from both crew members, the flight began at 08:32 with a pre-flight preparation, followed by a takeoff from Runway 13R at 08:47. The planned activities included a navigation flight, a go-around, full-stop landings, touch-and-goes, and airwork in a practice area south of the airport. The critical phase occurred during the final approach for a simulated emergency landing on Runway 13.
The examiner reported that the pilot extended the landing gear during the approach and performed a landing calculation. The pilot then executed a slight "S"-turn to extend the downwind leg. As the aircraft was established on final approach, the pilot intended to extend the flaps but instead retracted the landing gear. Neither crew member noticed the gear retraction until the aircraft touched down on the runway. After landing, both crew members shut down the electrical system and fuel supply, and notified the flight school office. No injuries were reported.
The pilot's account corroborates the sequence: after extending and verifying the landing gear between the third and fourth turn of a right-hand circuit for Runway 13, the pilot decided to slightly extend the approach using an S-turn. While on final, reaching for the flap control, the pilot inadvertently operated the landing gear lever, retracting the gear. The error was recognized only after contact with the runway.
Injuries and Damage
Neither crew member sustained injuries. The aircraft, however, was damaged due to the gear-up landing.
Contributing Factors
Investigation focused on the actions of both crew members. The examiner was monitoring traffic and did not notice the gear retraction. The pilot, during the critical phase of approach, confused the location and operation of the landing gear and flap controls.
Probable Cause
The accident was caused by a landing performed with the landing gear retracted, primarily due to the pilot's incorrect action of retracting the landing gear instead of extending the flaps, as a result of confusion between the operation and position of the landing gear and flap controls.