On August 21, 2001, about 1400 central daylight time, a Cessna C-172S, N764SP, owned by C & S Aviation Inc and operated by Bessemer Aviation Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight impacted the runway at Gadsden Airport, Gadsden, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported no injuries. The airplane departed Gadsden at 1315, on a round trip solo cross-country flight. According to the pilot's statement he was on approach to runway 36, at the conclusion of a solo cross-country flight. He said that when he had the "runway made," he reduced power, maintained airspeed, and at "10 to 12 feet" above the runway he began the flare. He said the main landing gear hit "hard" and the airplane "…hit hard on [the] nose wheel."