"She said it was too soon to say whether Pyle could face action regarding his pilot's license...The breaking and entering and larceny charges each carry a maximum 10-year prison term, and the aircraft theft charge carries a maximum five-year prison term."
My dad and sister are both pilots. Although neither would steal someone else's plane and neither would fly after drinking, I do know that the prospect of losing their licenses would be just as disturbing to them as prison time! Of course, this guy deserves both.
My favorite story in this vein is on from Middleton Wisconsin - Morey Field. A co worker back in the 1980's was a partial owner of an aircraft with retractable gear. The plane was late 50's early 60's vintage and it was clear that ergonomics were not paramount in the design of the controls in that era. A thumbwheel like control adjusted the flaps and next to it was a thumbwheel like control that lowered the gear. Another fractional share owner needed some hours to maintain proficiency so he took some friends up for a flight around Madison and the lakes. While coming in on final he announced to his passengers - don't worry about the noise you are about to hear - it's just he landing gear lowering. He reached over and rotated the thumbwheel, heard the sound of motors whirring, and proceeded to land, gear up. When the plane nearly hit the runway the props bent and then the airframe skidded down the runway to a stop, with no fire. Everyone emerged safely - and the result was a great series of photographs of this steaming pile of wreckage created when the pilot adjusted the flaps rather than lowering the gear.