A C172 PLT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG TO AVOID TSTMS AND RAN OFF THE RWY; DAMAGING THE ACFT AND SOME RWY LIGHTS.

Narrative

THIS VFR FLT ORIGINATED (AND CONTINUED) IN MARGINAL WX; ACCOMPANIED BY AIRMETS FOR SEVERE TSTM ACTIVITY ALONG THE RTE OF FLT. 2/3 OF THE WAY INTO THE FLT; ATC RPTED RADAR RETURNS OF LEVEL #1 AND #2 STORMS DIRECTLY AHEAD; AND ASKED WHETHER I WANTED TO DIVERT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. AMID INCREASING TURB; I DECIDED TO LAND. THE COMBINATION OF TURB; MVFR; THE IMMEDIATE THREAT OF TSTMS AND THE NEED FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG INCREASED MY STRESS LEVEL; SUCH THAT I DID NOT PROPERLY CTL MY SPD OR ALT IN THE TFC PATTERN. I LANDED 'HIGH AND HOT' AND SKIDDED OFF THE END OF A WET RWY; STRIKING A REIL WITH MY LNDG GEAR STRUT (BREAKING OFF THE LIGHT). MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT (STRUT); NO INJURIES. LAUNCHING INTO MVFR WAS NOT THE PROB; BUT CONTINUING INTO A VICINITY OF TSTMS WAS A CAUSATIVE FACTOR; AS IT INCREASED MY STRESS LEVEL. MY LEVEL OF STRESS ADVERSELY AFFECTED MY PERFORMANCE; AS IT CAUSED ME TO FORGET WHAT I KNEW TO BE THE CORRECT ALT/SPD COMBINATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL LNDG. I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS EVENT BY EITHER (OR BOTH): 1) AVOIDING A STRESSFUL SITUATION TO BEGIN WITH (IE; EXECUTE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG SOONER); OR 2) AS I NOTICE MY STRESS LEVEL RISING; REMEMBER TO THINK AND PROB SOLVE (PERHAPS EVEN BY 'TALKING OUT LOUD' TO THE EMPTY R SEAT NEXT TO ME).