On August 15, 1998, at 1500 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna 172N, N6172D, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during landing, the airplane touched down hard on runway 36, at Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger on board reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Traverse City, Michigan, at 1415 edt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he performed a normal traffic pattern to a touch and go. During the landing flare, the airplane's right wing and nose rose abruptly. The pilot said that he maintained back pressure to hold the proper attitude. The airplane's nose "dipped and encountered [the] runway surface." The pilot said that he performed a go-around and flew another traffic pattern to a full-stop landing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the Cherry Capital Airport. The tips of both propeller blades were bent aft. The engine firewall was buckled at the four attachment points for the nose gear. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine, engine controls or other airplane systems.