On July 27, 2000, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N4312R, porpoised on landing at the Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California. During the sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and other structural members. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations by the Alameda Aero Club and rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Oakland airport at 1430. The accident was reported to the Safety Board on August 14 following determination of the damage. In his written statement, the pilot said he was a little fast and did not keep the airplane off the runway long enough to bleed off the airspeed. The touchdown was flat and the airplane porpoised, damaging the nose gear and firewall.