On July 1, 2000, at 1730 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N4892N, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at South Lake Tahoe, California. The airplane was owned by the United States Air Force (USAF) and being operated by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), an extension of the USAF Reserve, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 on a public-use flight. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed Elko Regional Airport, Elko, Nevada, about 1500, and was scheduled to terminate at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filled. The pilot stated the air traffic control tower advised him the temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the winds were variable from 240 to 270 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 12 knots. He flew a straight in landing pattern to land on runway 18. As he prepared to flare, the airplane dropped to the runway, hit hard, and bounced into a nose high attitude. He added power but stated the nose fell through and struck the ground before he could stop it. Subsequent inspection revealed damage to the fuselage structure. The Safety Board was notified of the damage determination on July 17, 2000.