Seeing visible light sources is where NVG's really perform.
I have watched Airliner Strobe and Landing lights for aircraft landing at Atlanta.....from Augusta......about 150 miles away on a clear night.
Star gazing from the helipad at a remote site was breath taking.
Something as small as a cigarette shows up like a beacon.
If the Light House light was working that night....it would have been a very bright point of light and very easy to see if the aircraft was clear of cloud.