When the instructor and student pilots' aboard a C172RG failed to note the gear switch was in the up...

Attributes
ACN	1000003
Time
Date	201203
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Gear Extend/Retract Mechanism
Person 1
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 2500 Flight Crew Type 50
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Trainee
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 315 Flight Crew Type 6.5
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft

Narrative:

We performed the pre-flight inspection of the aircraft and found no discrepancies. I was functioning as the CFI for the pilot flying who was a certificated private pilot; instrument rated; and with a prior endorsement for complex and high-performance aircraft (asel) operation.after our engine run-up; we were cleared for take-off. The aircraft accelerated normally however shortly after we began our takeoff roll; the nose gear retracted and the propeller struck the runway. The fuel and electrical were immediately shut off and the tower was notified. We immediately noted that the gear handle was in the up position. At no time did either pilot move the gear handle. The aircraft checklist was used for all phases of flight; however; the up-position of the gear handle was apparently missed. I believe that somehow the gear was placed in the up position prior to our flight and this was simply overlooked by both of us.contributing factors included not following the initial checklist to the letter which called for confirming that the gear handle was in the down-position and the incorrect expectation that an aircraft which had been flown earlier in the day would not be expected to have the gear-handle in the up-position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: When the Instructor and Student pilots' aboard a C172RG failed to note the gear switch was in the up position prior to starting their takeoff roll they experienced the collapse of the nose gear and a sudden engine stoppage when the prop struck the runway.

Narrative: We performed the pre-flight inspection of the aircraft and found no discrepancies. I was functioning as the CFI for the pilot flying who was a certificated private pilot; instrument rated; and with a prior endorsement for complex and high-performance aircraft (ASEL) operation.After our engine run-up; we were cleared for take-off. The aircraft accelerated normally however shortly after we began our takeoff roll; the nose gear retracted and the propeller struck the runway. The fuel and electrical were immediately shut off and the Tower was notified. We immediately noted that the gear handle was in the up position. At no time did either pilot move the gear handle. The aircraft checklist was used for all phases of flight; however; the up-position of the gear handle was apparently missed. I believe that somehow the gear was placed in the up position prior to our flight and this was simply overlooked by both of us.Contributing factors included not following the initial checklist to the letter which called for confirming that the gear handle was in the down-position and the incorrect expectation that an aircraft which had been flown earlier in the day would not be expected to have the gear-handle in the up-position.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

When the instructor and student pilots' aboard a C172RG failed to note the gear switch was in the up position prior to starting their takeoff roll they experienced the collapse of the nose gear and a sudden engine stoppage when the prop struck the runway.