Incident Overview
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the pilot reported his intention to land on a private airstrip he had not previously visited. The day before the flight, he had contacted the airstrip owner for directions and to inquire about the condition of the strip.
Approach and Landing
Upon arrival, the pilot observed an area that matched the description provided by the owner. Noting that the field appeared wet, the pilot initiated a soft-field landing technique. While on short final approach, he noticed that the surface was very rough. The airplane touched down and was nearly stopped when the nose wheel bounced over a mound of dirt. Upon contacting the surface, the nose wheel sank into the soft soil, causing the airplane to nose over.
Aftermath
Later, the pilot learned that the area where he had landed was not the intended airstrip, but rather a construction site for a railroad operation.