On May 8, 1998, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, N310DR, landed hard at the Barwick La Fayette Airport, La Fayette, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The commercial pilot, a pilot rated passenger, and a second passenger were not injured. There was substantial damage to the airplane. The flight originated in Chattanooga, Tennessee, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. According to the pilot, he had flown several approaches to runway 02 and floated during the flares. On this landing, he did not extend the flaps, and flew the landing approach about five knots slower. Just before touchdown, with a good descent rate, he rotated with no change in the airplane's performance. The airplane landed hard, and the left main tire ruptured. The airplane veered off the runway, then veered further left, eventually colliding with a ditch. The airline transport rated pilot passenger stated to the pilot that it felt as if the airplane sank abruptly, and may have encountered a wind shift. The pilot also stated that this aircraft was a later model than he had previously flown, so he had only one hour total flight time in it. He believes, in retrospect, he should have received flight instruction before attempting to fly the airplane. The wind was from 290 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.