Small aircraft pilot reported runway excursion due to inability to maintain directional control on l...

Attributes
ACN	1694773
Time
Date	201910
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Landing
Route In Use	Visual Approach Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19 Flight Crew Total 382 Flight Crew Type 382
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Ground Event / Encounter Object Ground Excursion Runway Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

While in final landing phase at ZZZ on runway xxl; I landed approximately 800 ft. Down the runway; past the numbers; a little left of the runway center line. After touching down; a strong crosswind buffeted the aircraft from the right side. This resulted in pushing the aircraft into the grass approximately 5 ft. For about 10 ft. I then returned to the runway. When the left wheel went off the runway; it hit a standing landing light. This resulted in minor aircraft skin damage; which is being repaired. I believe there were several factors that led to this event. As I stated earlier; the strong wind gust was the major factor after touchdown. I am not sure if I also did not hit some wake turbulence as a 737 had landed prior to my arrival at xxl. Finally; I should have; after touchdown; held a more deflected aileron position. I'd take evasive action on touchdown to regain lateral control of the aircraft; and felt that if I was too heavy on the brakes; it would result in the aircraft skidding instead of rolling into the grass.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Small aircraft Pilot reported runway excursion due to inability to maintain directional control on landing.

Narrative: While in final landing phase at ZZZ on Runway XXL; I landed approximately 800 ft. down the runway; past the numbers; a little left of the runway center line. After touching down; a strong crosswind buffeted the aircraft from the right side. This resulted in pushing the aircraft into the grass approximately 5 ft. for about 10 ft. I then returned to the runway. When the left wheel went off the runway; it hit a standing landing light. This resulted in minor aircraft skin damage; which is being repaired. I believe there were several factors that led to this event. As I stated earlier; the strong wind gust was the major factor after touchdown. I am not sure if I also did not hit some wake turbulence as a 737 had landed prior to my arrival at XXL. Finally; I should have; after touchdown; held a more deflected aileron position. I'd take evasive action on touchdown to regain lateral control of the aircraft; and felt that if I was too heavy on the brakes; it would result in the aircraft skidding instead of rolling into the grass.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Small aircraft pilot reported runway excursion due to inability to maintain directional control on landing.