What happened
On Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at approximately 21:00, a Piper PA-28-181 (registration F-GALC) was involved in a ground collision at the Aix-les-Milles aerodrome. The aircraft, operated by a local flying club, had just completed a one-hour local flight with one passenger on board.
As the pilot attempted to bring the aircraft to a halt at its parking position, he was simultaneously applying the brakes with his feet while pulling the parking brake lever with his right hand. During this maneuver, the passenger attempted to unbuckle their seatbelt. The pilot signaled for the passenger to remain seated until the engine had stopped. Following this interaction, the pilot turned toward the rear seat to retrieve a checklist. During this movement, the pressure applied to the toe brakes was released, and the pilot had failed to fully engage the parking brake lever. Consequently, the aircraft moved forward, resulting in the propeller striking a stationary Piper PA-28 parked in front of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the aircraft's arrival and the mechanical state of the braking system. Investigators examined the braking components of the F-GALC and found no technical anomalies or mechanical failures within the braking systems. The inquiry also looked into the cockpit environment, specifically the pilot's actions and the passenger's behavior during the shutdown procedure.