On April 3, 1996, approximately 2030 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172P, N51380, experienced a hard landing at Friday Harbor Airport, Friday Harbor, Washington. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Paine Field, Everett, Washington, about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was later turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, who was attempting to land after sunset, he flew a normal approach for a VFR full-stop landing. At the point where he thought he was still about 20 to 30 feet above the ground, the nose wheel slammed into the runway. The force of the impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft structure.