GAA19CA368

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a taxiway sign.

The pilot reported that, during a touch-and-go landing in gusting crosswind conditions, after landing, he reached to retract the flaps and added power when the left wing rose. He reduced power and added rudder and aileron to lower the wing. The airplane veered left, and the left main landing gear exited the runway into the grass. The pilot stated that the airplane "tipped to the left," that he "steered into the grass," and that the right horizontal stabilizer impacted a taxiway sign. The pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was variable from 140° to 190° at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 160° at 10 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 19L.

The pilot reported that, during a touch and go landing in a gusting crosswind, after landing, he reached to retract the flaps and added power when the left wing rose. He reduced power, added rudder and aileron to lower the wing. The airplane veered left and the left main landing gear exited the runway into the grass. The airplane "tipped to the left", he "steered into the grass", and the right horizontal stabilizer impacted a taxiway sign. The pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was variable from 140° to 190° at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 160° at 10 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 19L.