What happened
Following landing, the pilot attempted to taxi the aircraft to a specific fixed base operator. Due to the darkness and the early morning hour, the pilot found it difficult to identify buildings and could not locate ground personnel to provide directions to the correct ramp.
After taxiing through several incorrect ramp areas, the pilot reached an area bounded by hangars on both sides. To maneuver out of this dead end, the pilot placed the aircraft in reverse and began a turn. During this maneuver, the right elevator struck a hangar, resulting in substantial damage. The impact was not discovered by the pilot until after they had disembarked the aircraft.
Safety message
Upon landing at an unfamiliar airport, pilots should locate the nearest ground personnel to obtain directions to their destination. If faced with a tight taxiing situation, the pilot should stop the aircraft and seek assistance.