Incident Overview
A private pilot, who had been denied authorization by the operator to rent the airplane for a night flight, gained access to the ignition key for a single-engine airplane and proceeded to attempt an unauthorized flight. While taxiing for departure, the airplane collided with a hangar and a parked airplane. A post-impact fire ensued. The pilot exited the airplane's side window unassisted and fled the accident site.
Prior Events
Before the accident, the pilot informed the flight school dispatcher that a flight instructor was en route to the airport to provide him with a biannual flight review. The pilot was authorized to perform a preflight inspection of the airplane while waiting for the instructor. The pilot mentioned that he wanted to start the airplane's engine to ensure it was operational. The dispatcher instructed the pilot to wait until the flight instructor arrived. Unbeknownst to the dispatcher, the pilot had taken the airplane's ignition key from the office.
Sequence of Events
A short time later, the dispatcher heard an airplane engine start, followed by a "crash sound and then a loud boom or explosion." The flight instructor, with whom the pilot reportedly had spoken on the night of the accident, stated that he had not received any calls from the pilot that evening.
Aftermath and Discovery
The day after the accident, it was discovered that ignition switches in two rental airplanes parked near the accident airplane had been tampered with. The ignition switch had been pulled loose from one airplane, and the other airplane's ignition switch had been removed. Reportedly, the pilot committed suicide approximately two weeks later.