Summary
On April 18, 2013, a Cessna P210N (N711BG) was involved in an incident near Corvallis, OR. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadvertent selection and activation of the landing gear handle rather than the flap handle during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to alter the configuration of the airplane before exiting the runway.
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the pilot announced his position as he was approaching the non-towered airport with the intention to conduct a straight in approach to runway 35. The landing was normal, and the pilot reported that there was "at least" 4,000 feet of runway remaining after touchdown. During the landing roll, when the airplane had slowed to about 50 knots, he decided to retract the flaps. However, he inadvertently grasped and raised the landing gear handle instead, and the nose gear retracted. The main gear remained extended, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose keel structure, as well as damage to the cowl, nose gear doors, and propeller.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR13CA258. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N711BG.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadvertent selection and activation of the landing gear handle rather than the flap handle during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to alter the configuration of the airplane before exiting the runway.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the pilot announced his position as he was approaching the non-towered airport with the intention to conduct a straight in approach to runway 35. The landing was normal, and the pilot reported that there was "at least" 4,000 feet of runway remaining after touchdown. During the landing roll, when the airplane had slowed to about 50 knots, he decided to retract the flaps. However, he inadvertently grasped and raised the landing gear handle instead, and the nose gear retracted. The main gear remained extended, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose keel structure, as well as damage to the cowl, nose gear doors, and propeller. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot further reported, “When landing, pilot should make no changes to flaps or other systems until the airplane has fully decelerated.”
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR13CA258