Landing and Turnoff
After completing a short field landing, the pilot retracted the flaps to aid in braking. The pilot then initiated a right turn to exit the runway at midfield. According to the pilot's report, due to the airplane's speed and a gust of wind, the tires lost traction, causing the turn radius to be too wide to successfully make the turnoff. As a result, the left main gear entered a ditch adjacent to the runway.
Wind Conditions
The pilot reported that the winds were from 280 degrees at 3 knots, gusting to 11 knots at the time of the incident.
Pilot's Assessment
In a written statement, the pilot noted that a continued rollout to achieve a slower speed after landing would be optimal before initiating a turn off the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties with the aircraft or its powerplant.