Night Landing with Runway Lights Out Results in Nose Gear Collapse and Off-Runway Excursion

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during a night landing, the threshold and right side runway lights were out of service at the airport. The pilot stated that he "must have been closer [to the ground] than [he] estimated" on approach, resulting in a flat landing. Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder input. The airplane came to rest to the left of the runway in an adjacent cornfield.

Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.

Mechanical Status

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.