PLT OF AN ML7 ENCOUNTERED WINDS DURING LNDG THAT EXCEEDED HIS ABILITY TO CTL WIND DRIFT. AS THE ACFT DRIFTED TOWARD THE L SIDE OF THE RWY; THE PLT INITIATED A GAR; BUT THE ACFT DRIFTED OVER THE RWY EDGE AND STRUCK A RWY LIGHT IN THE PROCESS. ACFT DAMAGED.

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UPON TOUCHDOWN AND BEFORE ROLLOUT ON RWY 14; A GUST OF WIND (STRONG XWINDS WERE PRESENT) PROVIDED SUFFICIENT LIFT TO CAUSE AIRPLANE TO LIFT INCHES OFF OF THE RWY AND DRIFT OFF OF DESIRED COURSE. DRIFT RATE WAS FROM R TO L. WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT REMAIN ON THE RWY; A GAR DECISION WAS MADE. I BELIEVED THAT IT WAS BETTER TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. THERE WAS LESS CTL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE GND. WHILE THESE EVENTS WERE HAPPENING THE DRIFT RATE CONTINUED. THE DRIFT PUSHED THE AIRPLANE OUT PAST THE RWY (TO THE L) AND BEFORE SUFFICIENT ALT COULD BE GAINED; A RWY MARKER LIGHT WAS STRUCK BY THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. A GAR WAS EXECUTED WITH NO FURTHER EVENTS TO NOTE. THE BREAKAWAY LIGHT WAS DAMAGED; BUT REPAIRABLE; AND FABRIC ON UNDERSIDE OF AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED WITH A MINOR REPAIR NEEDED. THIS ARPT HAS JUST BEEN RENOVATED. IT PREVIOUSLY HAD A XWIND RWY BUT DUE TO CONSTRUCTION IT WAS OBSTRUCTED. ALTHOUGH IT WAS MORE IN LINE WITH PREVAILING WINDS; THIS WAS NOT THE PRIMARY RWY OF USE SINCE IT WASN'T PAVED AND ONLY THE ORIGINAL RWY COULD BE REPAIRED. NO CHOICES ALLOWED.