20010815023809I

(-23) During night landing, pilot attempted to command airport runway lights on by clicking his mike button on the assigned radio frequency. The runway lights did not respond and the approach was made to an unlit runway. The pilot's approach was not in line with the runway 29 but instead he lined up on the grass separation area between the runway and the parallel taxiway. The landing was made on the grass. When asked why he did not go around the pilot stated that he had committed to land and that it seemed safe and appropriate to him at that time. The nose landing gear was forced out of it's down and locked position when the aircraft crossed over a paved taxiway at high speed during the landing roll out, the aircraft then skidded on it's propeller and engine cowl for several hundred feet before coming to rest. Aircraft received damage to nose gear, propeller, engine, cowling and gear doors. Pilot stated his landing lights were on working normal, gear were down and locked with normal indications and no warning horn on the approach.