C170 pilot lost control of aircraft after landing; departing runway and striking taxiway sign.

Attributes
ACN	741386
Time
Date	200705
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 170
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 170 flight time type : 24
ASRS Report	741386
Events
Anomaly	excursion : runway ground encounters other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While completing the final leg of a journey that began 3 days earlier; I landed at ZZZ. Following a 3-POINT landing and rollout; the aircraft began to drift left off the runway; applied right rudder (excessive); the right wing rose up and the left wingtip impacted the runway surface. The aircraft departed off the right side of the runway in this attitude; eventually striking a taxiway sign. After the taxiway sign; impact on the right horizontal stabilizer; the aircraft righted itself and I was able to taxi the aircraft to the parking ramp. AWOS reported winds at 030 degrees at 11 KTS; landed on runway 33. The touchdown was nominal; throttle was at idle. I retracted the flaps and thought just after flap retraction and during subsequent rollout 'did it!' (as in successfully completed a 2200+ mi cross country); and with that thought the aircraft started to drift left. I believe that I let my guard down for a few critical seconds and then overcorrected to keep the aircraft on the runway. I think my training for a tailwheel signoff was appropriate; but that I was mentally unprepared for the successful conclusion of a long cross country flight. At the outset of the flight; I was aware that there were a number of hazards to be overcome; but when I successfully arrived (or so I thought) at my final destination; I was elated; and this led to my failure to stay focused on maintaining control of the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C170 PLT LOST CONTROL OF ACFT AFTER LNDG; DEPARTING RWY AND STRIKING TAXIWAY SIGN.

Narrative: WHILE COMPLETING THE FINAL LEG OF A JOURNEY THAT BEGAN 3 DAYS EARLIER; I LANDED AT ZZZ. FOLLOWING A 3-POINT LNDG AND ROLLOUT; THE ACFT BEGAN TO DRIFT L OFF THE RWY; APPLIED R RUDDER (EXCESSIVE); THE R WING ROSE UP AND THE L WINGTIP IMPACTED THE RWY SURFACE. THE ACFT DEPARTED OFF THE R SIDE OF THE RWY IN THIS ATTITUDE; EVENTUALLY STRIKING A TXWY SIGN. AFTER THE TXWY SIGN; IMPACT ON THE R HORIZ STABILIZER; THE ACFT RIGHTED ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO TAXI THE ACFT TO THE PARKING RAMP. AWOS RPTED WINDS AT 030 DEGS AT 11 KTS; LANDED ON RWY 33. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS NOMINAL; THROTTLE WAS AT IDLE. I RETRACTED THE FLAPS AND THOUGHT JUST AFTER FLAP RETRACTION AND DURING SUBSEQUENT ROLLOUT 'DID IT!' (AS IN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A 2200+ MI XCOUNTRY); AND WITH THAT THOUGHT THE ACFT STARTED TO DRIFT L. I BELIEVE THAT I LET MY GUARD DOWN FOR A FEW CRITICAL SECONDS AND THEN OVERCORRECTED TO KEEP THE ACFT ON THE RWY. I THINK MY TRAINING FOR A TAILWHEEL SIGNOFF WAS APPROPRIATE; BUT THAT I WAS MENTALLY UNPREPARED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF A LONG XCOUNTRY FLT. AT THE OUTSET OF THE FLT; I WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF HAZARDS TO BE OVERCOME; BUT WHEN I SUCCESSFULLY ARRIVED (OR SO I THOUGHT) AT MY FINAL DEST; I WAS ELATED; AND THIS LED TO MY FAILURE TO STAY FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING CTL OF THE ACFT.

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.