Accident Description
The pilot reported that when he initially attempted to start the engine, the battery was weak. He decided to manually remove excess oil and lubricant from the engine by hand-propping the aircraft. The pilot stated that he set the parking brake, turned off the master switch and fuel pump, but may have left the magneto switch in the left or right magneto position. As he pulled the propeller, the engine started. Subsequently, the unoccupied aircraft hit a hangar and a fence.
Investigation Findings
According to the pilot's statement, the battery was weak when he first attempted to start the engine. In an effort to clear excess oil from the engine, he chose to hand-prop the aircraft. During this procedure, he set the parking brake and deactivated the master switch and fuel pump. However, the magneto switch may have been left in either the left or right magneto position. When the pilot pulled the propeller, the engine started, and the unoccupied aircraft moved forward, striking a hangar and a fence.