Reports Say Pilot Error Was the Cause of A Plane Leaving the Runway at Mankato Airport Monday Evening

A single engine Beechcraft Bonanza G35 went off the runway at the Mankato Regional Airport Monday after the pilot reportedly mistakenly hit a switch retracting the front wheel after landing.

The plane had just landed at 5:53pm and the pilot was throttling down the engine when he flipped the wrong switch, causing the front landing gear to rise, which resulted in the plane going off the runway.  There were no injuries to the pilot, who was the only person on board.

The incident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.