On December 27, 2005, at 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N54360, registered to and operated by ISO Aero Services of Wilmington Incorporated, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, landed hard on runway 35, at the Wilmington International Airport, Wilmington, North Carolina. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot did not report any injuries. The flight originated from Kinston Regional Jetport, Kinston, North Carolina on December 27, 2005 at 1600. The student pilot stated that he departed Kinston with full fuel, and upon final approach to Wilmington International Airport, runway 35 he attempted to slow down his approach airspeed. The student pilot stated when he flared the airplane he "dropped hard on runway 35". The airplane touched down a second time, and the student pilot stated he heard the nose wheel tire "pop". The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident. The accident was reported to NTSB on March 3, 2006. Inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector showed the firewall of the airplane was bent.