On April 25, 2003, at 1210 central daylight time, a Cessna 182T, N35291, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over following a hard landing on a private grass airstrip (2,400 feet by 70 feet, turf) in Marengo, Illinois. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Burlington, Wisconsin, about 1130. The pilot reported he encountered a "strong downdraft or windshear" about 15 - 20 feet above the runway while landing to the east. The pilot stated he attempted to recover from the descent by adding power but was unsuccessful. The pilot noted the airplane impacted the runway and the main landing gear penetrated into the sod. The main landing gear then separated from the airplane and it nosed over. The weather reporting station at the Greater Rockford Airport, 21 nautical miles to the west of the accident site reported at 1154, winds from 030 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 22 knots.