On July 16, 1996, at 1740 central daylight time, a Dearinger Duce, N85JD, was substantially damaged while landing near Corning, Arkansas. The airplane, owned and operated by a private owner, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated at the Nick Wilson Field near Pocahantas, Arkansas, at approximately 1715. During a telephone interview with the investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that the engine hesitated momentarily when he attempted to add power to arrest a high rate of descent that developed on final approach while landing on runway 36 at the Corning Municipal Airport. The pilot further stated that the airplane "fell from about 10 feet and landed hard." The tailwheel equipped airplane bounced once and nosed over, coming to a stop in the inverted position. The left wing spar and the vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage. When asked by the investigator-in-charge about the possibility that the winds might have been a factor during the landing, the pilot stated that the winds at the time of the accident were calm, and "did not play a role." The pilot added that the purpose of the flight was to have a mechanic at the Corning Airport check the carburetor on his engine. The high wing home-built airplane, manufactured by Bill Dearinger in 1983, was purchased by the student pilot in August 1985 from the second owner. The pilot did not forward to the Safety Board a pilot/operator report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).