On October 26, 1996, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5535R, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during the landing roll, on a private turf runway, near Hilton, New York. The student pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Ledgedale Airpark, Brockport, New York, about 1510. No flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that he departed runway 18, a 2,200 foot turf runway, from Hilton, with his flight instructor, earlier that day. He was returning from Brockport, where he dropped off his instructor, and planned to conduct an approach and landing to runway 18. During the final approach, the airspeed was 65 MPH, with 30 degrees of flaps. During the landing roll, the airplane touched down a few feet off runway center, and the pilot did not hold full back (up) elevator. The airplane then crossed a soft spot, about 200 yards down the runway, and nosed over. The pilot further reported, that landing on the center of the runway, firmer ground, and holding full up elevator would have helped prevent the accident. Also, he indicated that the runway conditions were dry with a light wind from the south, and that there were no malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclose evidence of malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot had a total flight experience of about 48 hours, of which 13 were solo.