Event FTW94LA319

Factual narrative

On September 30, 1994, at 1010 central daylight time, a Lockheed PV-2, N6857C, was substantially damaged during landing near Lafayette, Louisiana. The two airline transport rated pilots and a commercial pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight. The airline transport rated pilot occupying the right seat stated that he was pilot-in-command (PIC), held a type rating for the airplane, and was instructing the pilot in the left seat for his type rating in the airplane. The commercial pilot was the crew member operating the radios. The PIC stated that during the second touch and go landing roll while configuring the airplane for takeoff, "I pulled the gear handle up instead of the flaps." The airplane came to a stop on runway 4R and all occupants exited the airplane. The PIC reported spar damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT WAS INSTRUCTING THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT FOR A TYPE RATING IN THE AIRPLANE. AFTER THE SECOND LANDING, THE PIC IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS CONFIGURING THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF AND INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE GEAR HANDLE UP INSTEAD OF THE FLAPS. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE TWO HANDLES 'ARE IDENTICAL IN SIZE, SHAPE, AND COLOR. THEY ARE LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12