On August 14, 2001, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177, N2949X, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a ditch while landing on runway 04 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, dry/asphalt) at the South Haven Area Regional Airport, South Haven, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight departed the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH), Benton Harbor, Michigan, at 1500. According to the pilot, during the landing, at approximately five feet above the ground, there was a "strong crosswind gust." The pilot reported that after he encountered the gust of wind he, "... should have applied full power and initiated a go-around." The pilot stated that the airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a ditch. A witness to the accident, who was also the airport manager, reported that the accident airplane had attempted to land on runway 04. The witness reported that the accident airplane was "unstable" during the landing approach. The witness stated that after the touchdown the airplane began to bounce. The witness reported that after the third bounce the pilot lost control of the airplane, the airplane departed the prepared runway surface and impacted the ditch. The witness stated that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was approximately, "... 7 to 8 knots, gust inbetween [in between]." A weather observation station located at BEH, 15 nautical miles to the southwest, reported the weather at 1553 as: Date: 08/14/2001 Time: 1553 Wind: 350 degrees magnetic at 8 knots Visibility: 10 statute miles Sky Condition: Sky Clear Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 11 degrees Celsius Altimeter Setting: 30.10 inches-of-mercury