PILOT error only seconds after landing caused the undercarriage of a vintage Spitfire to collapse and leave the aircraft stranded on the main runway at East Midlands Airport.
Hundreds of travellers had their flights diverted on January 7 when the 46-year-old unnamed pilot, with more than 9,200 hours of flying experience, "inadvertently selected the undercarriage UP lever" instead of pressing the lever to retract the flaps.
This is despite the two levers being on opposite sides of the cockpit.
The findings are contained in an Air Accidents Investigation Branch report based on an accident form submitted by the pilot.
The Spitfire, powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine and built in 1945, had landed at the airport and was taxiing to leave the runway when the pilot pushing the lever to retract the wheels, leaving the plane stranded on the runway.
The fighter's wooden propeller shattered when it struck the runway.
The AAIB report said: "It is apparently a usual practice to retract the flaps as soon as possible after landing to minimise the effect they have on cooling radiator airflow."
No one was injured in the incident although the runway was closed for more than two-and-a-half hours and flights were diverted to Birmingham.
The accident happened at 3.19pm, as dusk fell, and the airport eventually reopened just after 6pm.
