JET'S LANDING GEAR RETRACTS ON RUNWAY Published Sept. 2, 2008 By Tim Barela Torch Magazine RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- An accident investigation board determined that raising the landing gear prior to the aircraft safely becoming airborne caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon accident at Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield, Ariz., April 2. The Air Force board completed its investigation June 20. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft after the pilot initiated landing gear retraction during the takeoff phase of the touch-and-go prior to the aircraft becoming safely airborne. The F-16D and mishap pilots were assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Wing, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The aircraft was flown from the rear cockpit by a pilot going through the instructor pilot upgrade course. A current and qualified instructor pilot occupied the front cockpit during the mishap. For the second half of the mission, the aviators dedicated their training to practice approaches for rear-seat proficiency at Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield. "That's why it is extremely important to establish good habit patterns through repeated exposure in the training environ-ment ... to reduce the likelihood of mishaps of this nature," said Col. John W. Blumentritt, director of the Air Education and Training Command Safety Directorate. The report said retracting the landing gear before advancing the throttle to full power caused the aircraft to settle to the runway because of insufficient speed and lift to return to flight. Proper emergency procedures were followed, and both pilots safely exited the aircraft on the runway. Neither pilot sustained injuries; and other than the damage to the aircraft, there was no collateral property damage.