On May 31, 1996, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6351W, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, personal, local flight, crashed in the vicinity of Barbour Island, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. According to the pilot while on approach for a landing to a private airstrip, he encountered gusty winds, lost control of the airplane, and impacted trees to the left of the runway. The pilot stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he approached the landing site at "70 mph, 5mph high for this phase, at the threshold," and that the altitude was about "15 feet" above ground level, "or a little high." The pilot further stated, "I was hit by a gust that turned me to the right." He stated that he made a correction, "and was immediately hit by a much stronger gust," that turned the airplane to the left "sharply." He applied full right aileron and full power. He stated that at this point, "...I was facing a live oak tree on the left side of the runway; I could not clear the top, and went into it." No discrepancies were found with either the airframe or the engine.