On November 15, 1998, about 1555 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 182Q, N759LH, landed hard on runway 24 at the Hickory Airport, Hickory, North Carolina. The airplane was rented by the pilot from Profile Aviation Center, Inc., for a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Hickory, North Carolina at 1440. According to the pilot, he was cleared by the tower to land on runway 24. The pilot reported that, "While on approach, at the end of the runway, a downdraft was experienced." The airplane touchdown first approximately 100 feet down the runway, became airborne, and then came down on the nose gear. After getting the aircraft under control, the pilot taxied back to the ramp where he observed the airframe damage. The nose gear, the firewall and the cockpit floor were damaged. No mechanical problems with the airplane, were reported by the pilot.