N5942H

The pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane at a 1,400-foot-long, remote airstrip located on a frozen snow-covered lake. The surface of the airstrip appeared to be hard compacted snow with a turn-around at the south end of the airstrip. Before beginning the approach he determined a touchdown point in the turn-around area to afford maximum use of the landing surface. After touchdown the main wheels sank into the soft snow, and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the rudder, lift struts and wings. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot realized that the turn-around area was loose soft snow that had not been compacted. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.