Incident Details
A non-certificated pilot jumpstarted an airplane and initiated a takeoff without the knowledge or permission of the airplane owner. Shortly thereafter, the airplane was located in a wooded area approximately 2 miles northeast of the airport. The right wing of the airplane had separated from the fuselage during the impact.
Investigation
Law enforcement officers later apprehended the pilot while he was attempting to retrieve his automobile from the airport. Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently interviewed the pilot at the county jail. When asked about the cause of the accident, the pilot responded that he did not know and claimed that another person had crashed the airplane.
Pilot Interview
During the interview, the pilot reported to FAA inspectors that he had accumulated 200-300 total flight hours. However, this claimed experience could not be verified. The airplane owner was not involved in the flight and had not authorized the operation.