Incident Overview
A pilot flying a single-engine airplane experienced a loss of control during the landing rollout at an airport served by a single east-west runway. The pilot had called the airport UNICOM for an airport advisory but received no response. After circling the airport, the pilot observed surface winds from the north at 12 to 15 knots and elected to land on Runway 28.
Details of the Event
During the landing rollout, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, off the runway surface and onto the soft, muddy shoulder. The airplane subsequently collided with a ditch. The pilot reported that the gust caused the deviation from the runway.
Pilot Actions
The investigation determined that the pilot improperly used the flight controls and failed to maintain directional control during the landing. The pilot's actions contributed to the loss of control after the gust affected the aircraft.