Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 161; Flight Crew Type 93
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Weather
I listened to the AWOS and noted wind at 5mph from 90 degrees with gusting to 10mph. On final approach for landing; I experienced light to moderate wind gusts that bounced the aircraft around a bit. Under those conditions; I decided to limit flaps to 20 degrees and maintain a slightly higher airspeed since the runway length was over 6;000 ft. and gusting was intermittent. Upon crossing over the runway threshold at 65kts; I reduced power to idle and flared 10 feet over the runway. The aircraft floated in the ground effect for a long distance and ultimately when the wheels made contact it bounced up into the air again and floated further in ground effect. At that moment; a wind gust pushed the tail to the left. I tried to correct with opposite rudder but the deflection did not correct the alignment before the wheels made contact with the runway. The aircraft was by then oriented at a 25-30 degree angle to the right of runway centerline. The aircraft then bolted violently to the right and rolled quickly off the runway into the grass; heading toward a rock lined; 4-ft deep drainage ditch just beyond a taxiway. As I attempted to maneuver the rolling aircraft back to the left; it began to skid and tip over to the right. I righted the aircraft to avoid driving the right wing and nose into the ground and potentially flipping the aircraft; but by then my only choice was to either roll toward the ditch or in the direction of hangars to the right. I braked but wasn't able to stop before the aircraft rolled into the ditch.The left wingtip; propeller and landing gear received damage. No injuries to myself or damage to airport property resulted. I immediately contacted the aircraft owner and airport authorities; who arrived to the scene quickly to assess the situation. The airport manager confirmed no damage to airport property. The aircraft owner and airport manager coordinated to make arrangements to remove the aircraft from the ditch.
GA pilot reported loss of directional control during a crosswind landing; which resulted in a runway excursion.