Primary finding
Probable cause
Inadvertent landing gear retraction by the pilot flying the aircraft. A factor was inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During takeoff roll, on a touch-and-go landing, the pilot under instruction inadvertently raised the landing gear instead of the flaps.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 21, 1994, at 0905 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6958V, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at Greeley-Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado. The two pilots were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. According to both pilots, they were conducting touch and go landings with the pilot in the left seat under instruction and flying the aircraft. During takeoff roll, on a touch-and-go, and after applying takeoff power, the pilot under instruction inadvertently retracted the landing gear instead of the flaps. -