For low-currency pilots in a hobby environment there have been cases where quite dissimilar controls have been confused.
Cognitive decline has also been suspected in these cases, especially when older pilots were involved.
Since I cannot post links yet:
bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-rolladen-schneider-ls4-registered-f-clmf-on-25-06-2021-at-vinon-sur-verdon/
bea.aero/fileadmin/user_upload/F-CLMF_En.pdf
This is a case where an airbrake handle and a gear lever were mixed up, even though they are very different in this type of glider:
- Linear action backwards vs. pivot lever action forwards
- Different shape of handle
- Different actuation force and force progression
- Blue plastic vs black metal
- High on cockpit sill vs low near armrest
I would not have expected much better trained, supervised and medically checked ATPL pilots in a two-person cockpit to have such a mix-up and not recognize/correct it.
But given the facts so far it has to be viewed as possible, even likely.