Primary finding
Probable cause
An inadvertent wheel up landing. A factor to the accident was turbulence.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during a normal approach with the landing gear down and flaps set at 15 degrees, when the airplane was approximately 30 feet agl, the wind shifted and the airplane travelled through heavy turbulence. The pilot reached to retract the flaps; however, the pilot retracted the landing gear instead of the flaps and the airplane landed gear up on the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 6, 1993, at 1308 hours mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 14-19-2, landed gear up at Kanab, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot reported that a normal approach for landing in gusting wind conditions was performed. The landing gear was down and the flaps were set at 15 degrees. When the airplane was approximately 30 feet above ground level, the wind shifted and the airplane travelled through heavy turbulence. The pilot reached for the flap level to retract the flaps, however, instead of the flap lever, the pilot retracted the landing gear. The damage to the airplane was not reported until July 27, 1993. -