What happened
The pilot reported that during the landing rollout, while at about 50 mph, a strong gust of wind hit him from the left. The airplane veered to the right off the runway, then continued through a metal fence and into a field. There was damage to the left wing, aileron, and landing gear. The pilot reported that the winds at the airport at the time of the accident were from the southwest at 25 to 35 knots, gusting to 35 knots and higher. According to the manufacturer, there is no published maximum crosswind component for the PA-24.
Findings
The incident occurred under conditions of strong crosswinds, with reported speeds between 25 and 35 knots. The aircraft experienced a sudden lateral force that caused it to depart the runway surface. No specific mechanical failure was cited, but the lack of a published maximum crosswind component for the PA-24 was noted by the manufacturer.