What happened
The pilot was performing an approach to a 150-foot-wide runway using crosswind correction. The aircraft was aligned with the centerline at the start of the approach; however, the runway surface was wet following a recent rain shower. As the aircraft approached the runway, a leftward drift developed.
In an attempt to arrest this drift, the pilot tried to lower the right wing. During the landing, both main landing gear touched the surface approximately at the same time. This resulted in a severe slip toward the left edge of the runway. Although the aircraft remained aligned with the runway centerline, it traveled sideways across the pavement. The pilot maintained crosswind corrections and successfully brought the airplane to a stop.
The investigation
The investigation confirmed that there was no mechanical malfunction present in the aircraft. It was later determined that the left wing sustained damage after making contact with a taxiway sign during the excursion. A weather observation recorded seven minutes after the event indicated surface winds were variable at 5 knots.