Narrative:

This VFR flight originated (and continued) in marginal WX; accompanied by airmets for severe thunderstorm activity along the route of flight. 2/3 of the way into the flight; ATC reported radar returns of level #1 and #2 storms directly ahead; and asked whether I wanted to divert for a precautionary landing. Amid increasing turbulence; I decided to land. The combination of turbulence; MVFR; the immediate threat of thunderstorms and the need for a precautionary landing increased my stress level; such that I did not properly control my speed or altitude in the traffic pattern. I landed 'high and hot' and skidded off the end of a wet runway; striking a REIL with my landing gear strut (breaking off the light). Minor damage to the aircraft (strut); no injuries. Launching into MVFR was not the problem; but continuing into a vicinity of thunderstorms 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 altitude/speed combinations for a successful landing. I could have avoided this event by either (or both): 1) avoiding a stressful situation to begin with (ie; execute precautionary landing sooner); or 2) as I notice my stress level rising; remember to think and problem solve (perhaps even by 'talking out loud' to the empty right seat next to me).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 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).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.