Accident Summary
During the landing roll, the pilot reported feeling as though the airplane was being pushed to the left side of the runway. In response, he applied full right rudder and left aileron. Despite these inputs, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The pilot then added power to prevent the airplane's nose from colliding with a drainage culvert, but the airplane accelerated and impacted a tree.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the left wing.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Wind Conditions
The pilot reported that the wind at the destination airport was 090° at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The nearest weather reporting station, located 14 miles to the north at the departure airport, reported about the time of the accident that the wind was from 040° at 3 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24.
Runway Selection
The pilot chose to land on runway 24 because of its 2.9 percent uphill gradient.