On August 8, 1996, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N9730P, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site approximately 45 miles northwest of Arctic Village, Alaska. The private pilot and sole passenger aboard were not injured. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at Arctic Village, Alaska, about 1215. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 16, the pilot related that he allowed the airplane's airspeed to become too slow while on short final approach to a gravel bar. He said he added power, but was too late to keep the airplane from sinking and landing hard and short of his intended touchdown point. The airplane traveled a short distance and nosed over.