Flight and Approach
The pilot flew a local flight and returned to land at the departure airport. Upon arrival, strong crosswind conditions were present. The intended landing runway was runway 27, a 4,137-foot-long, 100-foot-wide asphalt surface.
First Approach and Go-Around
During the first approach to runway 27, the aircraft was positioned too far left of the runway centerline. The pilot subsequently initiated a go-around and performed a second approach.
Second Approach and Excursion
On the second approach, one main wheel touched down on the runway, followed by the other. After touchdown, the pilot encountered a strong gust of wind that pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. The left main landing wheel then struck a snowbank located on the left side of the runway. The airplane continued and came to rest in a drainage ditch.
Pilot Experience and Weather
The pilot reported a total flight experience of 103 hours, all of which were in the same make and model of aircraft. Winds reported at an airport approximately 5 miles northeast were from 320 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots.