Narrative
A student pilot, on his first night training flight, was practicing takeoffs and landings under the supervision of a flight instructor. During his third approach, while turning from base to final, the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) displayed four red lights, indicating that the airplane was below the recommended approach path. The flight instructor advised the student that he was too low and instructed him to add power. The student pilot added power, and the far left PAPI light began to transition from red to white. On short final, the student reduced engine power to idle. During touchdown, the airplane collided with a runway threshold light.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer spar.
Investigation
The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.