What happened
On April 27, 2003, a Piper PA 28-181 Archer 2, registered F-GLEM, was conducting a flight from Montpellier Méditerranée to Brive. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and two passengers.
During the final approach to runway 14 at Brive, the pilot noted that the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) was non-functional. Consequently, the pilot adjusted engine parameters to attempt an approach on a 5% glide slope with full flaps extended. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced, subsequently striking the runway in a nose-down attitude. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, resulting in the aircraft coming to rest on its nose. The incident resulted in no fatalities, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and nose landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight parameters during the final approach and the pilot's management of the landing sequence. Investigators examined the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot held a PPL, they had only recently obtained it and had limited experience on this specific aircraft type. The investigation also reviewed the cockpit actions following the failure of the PAPI system and the subsequent touchdown dynamics.