Advice about skidding landing PA32

[Flying_Monkey]

Flew in to Big Bear today and the wind was a little gusty- it was a left crosswind like 10G22 or something and from 180-240 landing RWY 26. I added just a little extra speed on final approach for the gusts. I did land full flaps and kept some power in (PA32-300). I expected to float a little with the extra speed and did and as it settled I kept pulling the nose up to bleed off speed. Maybe the wind died down but it seemed to just plop on the ground. It was not a bad landing at all- I was on the centerline and pretty well lined up despite the crosswind from the left.

After landing the plane started skidding quite a bit to the left, turning left and sliding. It really took me by surprise and I didn't quite know what was happening but I could feel the main gear being side loaded. Didn't go off the runway or anything but had the runway been a lot narrower it would have been a possibility. I keep thinking back trying to figure out what happened since I have never experienced anything like that. Maybe I was too fast? But the plane really plopped down like it was done flying- not hard but you knew we touched down for sure. Ha. Maybe I didn't continue to increase left aileron input after landing? Maybe I thought the nosewheel was aligned and it wasn't? Did the plane weathervane?

Just trying to figure out exactly what I did wrong so I don't do it again! I've never had a landing like this one in my old PA28 or this PA32.

 

[Azpilot]

 

[JimC]

 

[GM.]

 

[epopper]

 

[06CSaratoga]

 

[Flying_Monkey]

 

[Yoke]

 

[SNKDTR]

 

[JimC]