20121102027369A

The pilot reported he was landing on runway 20 at Watsonville Municipal Airport (kwvi) on 11/02/2012 at approximately 1645 hours pacific time. He entered the traffic pattern and as he descended in altitude he applied 10 degrees of flaps and set the trim tab to a comfortable position for a glideslope set at 70-75 miles per hour (based on approximately 1500 RPM).turning onto final approach for runway 20, the pilot lined up the runway and reduced throttle power setting to idle and settled in for a two-wheel landing keeping his heels (both feet) on the floor board. The aircraft made a smooth two-wheel landing on the center of the runway just past the painted numbers. As the two front wheels touched down the pilot maintained a center forward position on the runway using only the rudder for alignment. As the aircraft was decreasing in speed, he glanced down at the instrument panel, and at the same time relaxed on the yoke control. The pilot stated he did not maintain backward yoke pressure. He then looked out the windshield and witnessed a propeller strike. The airplane started to roll over (nose-to-tail) in slow motion fashion according to the pilot. He attempted to make corrective measures, but it was too late. The airplane came to rest inverted. According to the pilot, the aircraft did not slide on the pavement, but rather "plopped" onto the runway. The pilot reiterated that his heels were firmly planted on the floor; he stated he did not apply the brakes at any time during the landing maneuver. When asked about the weather, the pilot stated the weather was not a factor. Moreover, there was no wind present at time of the landing, and there was no crosswind or wind in any direction. On final approach he checked the windsock, it was limp. The pilot stated he hasn't flown a tail dragger since 1971, and thereafter has primarily flown nose wheel aircraft. On the day of the accident, he received transition training with a certified flight instructor to obtain a tail wheel endorsement in the same Cessna 140 (tail number: N77227). The pilot completed 17 landings in the subject airplane prior to the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. He stated "the engine was running beautifully!" The airplane maintenance records revealed the last annual inspection was signed off on 11/01/2012.