General aviation pilot reported a gust of wind during the landing which ground looped the aircraft resulting in a runway excursion.
Synopsis
General aviation pilot reported a gust of wind during the landing which ground looped the aircraft resulting in a runway excursion.
Narrative
I flew VFR from ZZZ to ZZZ1. ATIS reported winds from 220 at 10 knots; gusting to 20 knots. Observing the windsock; the wind appeared to be a steady 280 with a slight sag; suggesting manageable conditions; which was consistent with the low wind I felt during the approach.I made the mistake of not centering the aircraft on runway XX for touchdown; I landed slightly to the right. The touchdown itself was controlled; however a gust picked me up again and I managed to land it softly. During the rollout; a crosswind pushed the aircraft right; requiring full aileron input to counter. The tail then broke out; leading to a ground loop. The aircraft slid left; coming to a stop 10 feet off the runway. The main wheel entered a gopher hole; causing a slight nose-tip and propeller strike. The damage was minor; limited to the propeller tips.The lessons learned from this event are to avoid landing with predicted 20-knot crosswind gusts and to instead seek airports with less crosswind. Additionally; always ensure the aircraft is centered on the runway for landing.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.