N31699

On March 28, 1998, at 1215 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N31699, was substantially damaged when it veered off the left side of the runway into bushes while landing at the Sky Park Airport, Redhook, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot said that he overflew the airport at 3,000 feet MSL, and the windsock favored runway 19. He said it was windy and gusty that day, and he estimated the winds were variable from the south and west. He said at the end of the flight, the wind was shifting back and forth, and the wind gusts were stronger.

The pilot reported that during landing on runway 19, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear just beyond the numbers. Just before the nosewheel touched down, a strong wind gust from the southwest lifted the airplane, and the right wing. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway into a grassy, wooded, brushy area.

He said that he was unable to steer back onto the runway after the airplane veered off the left side of the runway due to the strong crosswind, and the wet, slippery grass.

A weather reporting station about 25 miles away, reported winds from 230 degrees at 10 knots, and 30 minutes after the accident, reported the winds from 250 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot reported over 799 hours of total flight experience, including 589 hours in make and model. He said there were wind gusts to 25 knots, and that he experienced no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.