On January 1, 2024, TWA Flight 59 experienced a near-miss landing due to a critical error in the captain’s actions during a takeoff and landing sequence. The flight originated from New York, destined for Los Angeles, with an intermediate stop at St. Louis, Kansas City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, and Phoenix. Upon arrival at Scottsdale, Arizona, over Scottsdale at 00:05, the flight was cleared by the Phoenix tower to enter the left traffic pattern to runway 08L. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the flaps were lowered to takeoff position. As the turn on to the base leg, the landing gear was lowered and the final checklist was read and acknowledged. The tower notified the flight that an American Airlines plane was approaching and would land, and Flight 59 would be the second to land. To establish proper time separation, the flight immediately initiated a shallow 360-degree turn to the left. During this turn, the landing gear was retracted. Upon completing the turn and entering the base leg for the second time, the flight was cleared to land. The first officer called for gear down and observed the captain to move the lever. The captain stated he moved the lever from the up position to what he believed to be the full down position, but did not verify its position. As the flight turned in on final, the first officer called for approach flaps and later landing flaps, which orders the captain to execute. The aircraft passed over the approach end of runway 08L several ground witnesses observed that its landing gear was retracted. Before the flight could be advised of this condition, the aircraft had settled on the runway and slid to a stop. There was no fire and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The probable cause was a failure to properly position the landing gear operating lever, resulting in the landing gear being retracted.On January 1, 2024, TWA Flight 59 experienced a near-miss landing due to a critical error in the captain’s actions during a takeoff and landing sequence. The flight originated from New York, destined for Los Angeles, with an intermediate stop at St. Louis, Kansas City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, and Phoenix. Upon arrival at Scottsdale, Arizona, over Scottsdale at 00:05, the flight was cleared by the Phoenix tower to enter the left traffic pattern to runway 08L. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the flaps were lowered to takeoff position. As the turn on to the base leg, the landing gear was lowered and the final checklist was read and acknowledged. The tower notified the flight that an American Airlines plane was approaching and would land, and Flight 59 would be the second to land. To establish proper time separation, the flight immediately initiated a shallow 360-degree turn to the left. During this turn, the landing gear was retracted. Upon completing the turn and entering the base leg for the second time, the flight was cleared to land. The first officer called for gear down and observed the captain to move the lever. The captain stated he moved the lever from the up position to what he believed to be the full down position, but did not verify its position. As the flight turned in on final, the first officer called for approach flaps and later landing flaps, which orders the captain to execute. The aircraft passed over the approach end of runway 08L several ground witnesses observed that its landing gear was retracted. Before the flight could be advised of this condition, the aircraft had settled on the runway and slid to a stop. There was no fire and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The probable cause was a failure to properly position the landing gear operating lever, resulting in the landing gear being retracted.