Tail strike: What it is, how it happens and why it matters in aviation?

Tail strike: What it is, how it happens and why it matters in aviation?

A tail strike usually occurs when the tail or empennage (rear underside) of an aircraft makes contact with the runway surface during takeoff or landing. This typically happens when the pilot rotates the nose up too rapidly during takeoff or raises the nose too sharply during landing, often due to improper technique or unstable approach conditions. The incident is most common with aircraft that have a longer fuselage, as their geometry makes them…