On November 20, 1998, about 1045 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182C, N8620T, registered to a private individual, collided with terrain during a landing at the Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot, and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated about 1030, from Palmetto, Florida. The flight departed Palmetto and the pilot requested a special VFR en route to St. Petersburg. According to the pilot, as he began to flare the airplane the plane dropped as if a strong downdraft hit. The reported winds and visibility at the airport about the time of the accident was reported as: winds from 140 degrees at 5 knots, and the visibility was 1 3/4 sm, with haze. The accident was not reported immediately after it had occurred, about 1 week later an FAA inspector was doing a surveillance at a FBO (fixed base operator) and noticed N8620T with its nose gear "severely bent aft." When the inspector examined the wreckage it was determined that the airplane had sustained substantial damage. According to the FAA's report, "[the] pilot had a hard landing causing substantial damage to the aircraft structure."