What happened
The aircraft departed the active runway surface during the landing phase of flight. Upon leaving the paved area, the airplane entered an adjacent field that had been plowed. During this excursion, one of the wings struck the furrows in the ground. The pilot reported utilizing only 10 degrees of flap extension due to the prevailing crosswind conditions. A gust of wind impacted the aircraft as it flared for touchdown, pushing the airplane sideways so that it landed in a crabbed attitude. Following the initial contact with the ground, the aircraft swerved off the runway into the plowed area and sustained damage before coming to a stop.
The investigation
The pilot provided a statement regarding the operational factors leading to the incident. He attributed the loss of directional control during the flare to a gust of wind that pushed the airplane sideways. This lateral movement resulted in a crabbed landing configuration, which contributed to the aircraft swerving off the runway surface.
Findings
The primary factor involved was the crosswind condition at the time of landing. The pilot's decision to use reduced flap settings (10 degrees) was influenced by these winds. The gust of wind during the flare phase disrupted the intended touchdown alignment, leading to the crabbed landing and subsequent departure from the runway into the plowed field.