Event Details
A student pilot was operating a Cessna 172I on a local flight. After an uneventful flight, he returned to his home airport to practice takeoffs and landings.
Approach and Aborted Landing
During the second approach, just above the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was "low and slow" and increased engine power. The descent rate did not change appreciably, and the airplane began drifting to the left. The pilot decided to abort the landing, increasing engine power to full while maintaining the airplane's pitch attitude level.
Collision with PAPI Light Box and Runway Edge
Shortly after the power increase, the pilot heard the landing gear strike the top of the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light box. The pilot then attempted to set the airplane down, and the nose landing gear struck the edge of the runway, collapsing it. The collapse resulted in substantial damage to the firewall.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies associated with the airplane.