The pilot of the Cessna 210 and a passenger were attempting to land at Corvallis, Ore., at the end of a cross-country flight.
As the airplane was approaching the non-towered airport, the pilot announced his position and his intention to conduct a straight-in approach to Runway 35. The landing was normal.
During the landing roll, when the airplane had slowed to about 50 knots, the pilot decided to retract the flaps.
However, he inadvertently grasped and raised the landing gear handle instead. The main gear remained down but the nose gear retracted. The airplane’s nose hit the runway, causing substantial damage.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s inadvertent selection and activation of the landing gear handle rather than the flap handle during the landing roll.
NTSB Identification: WPR13CA258
This April 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
My CFI always talk out loud when he reaches for the flap handle or the landing gear handle. When grabbing the flap handle, he says ” this is the flap handle, it is shaped like a wing.” When he reaches for the landing gear handle, he says ” this is the landing gear handle, it is shaped like a wheel.” I think this is a great habit, because it causes you to look and feel and not just react to a flight control manipulation.
I was taught to taxi clear of the active, stop and clean up the aircraft at that point without the distraction of taxiing etc.