Event Description
During a local night instructional flight, a flight instructor was demonstrating the proper pitch attitude and sight picture needed for a landing. The aircraft was on final approach to land when, on short final just before touchdown, it drifted left of the runway centerline. Upon touchdown, the aircraft continued moving toward the left side of the runway.
Given the low energy state of the aircraft, the instructor pilot determined that there was insufficient room to perform a go-around safely. As the aircraft exited the runway, flight control inputs were applied in an attempt to correct back to the centerline. However, upon leaving the runway surface, the aircraft impacted a runway light with the lower portion of the right wing strut attach point, resulting in structural damage to the strut.
Pilot Report
The instructor pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if positive control had been maintained during the landing phase of the flight.