# Tailstrike

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 091
- CICTT category: Abnormal Runway Contact
- Defining event in: 108 cases
- In the sequence of: 124 cases
- Fatal cases: 0
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/cases.md
- Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091

## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence)

- 2008: 2 / 2
- 2009: 2 / 2
- 2010: 2 / 5
- 2011: 6 / 7
- 2012: 2 / 3
- 2013: 9 / 10
- 2014: 5 / 6
- 2015: 3 / 6
- 2016: 9 / 9
- 2017: 7 / 9
- 2018: 9 / 9
- 2019: 3 / 3
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2021: 8 / 8
- 2022: 7 / 8
- 2023: 10 / 11
- 2024: 9 / 9
- 2025: 8 / 8
- 2026: 5 / 7

## Phase of flight

- Landing-flare/touchdown: 59 cases
- Takeoff: 23 cases
- Landing: 16 cases
- Landing-aborted after touchdown: 4 cases
- Approach-VFR go-around: 3 cases
- Other: 1 cases
- Landing-landing roll: 1 cases
- Approach-IFR missed approach: 1 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 20 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 15 cases
- [Pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022) (Aircraft): 13 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 3 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 3 cases
- [Airbus A321-231](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-231): 3 cases
- [Boeing 737-924ER](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-924er): 3 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 2 cases
- [Airbus A320-251N](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-251n): 2 cases
- [Airbus A321-211](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-211): 2 cases
- [Airbus A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-232): 2 cases
- [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-11f): 2 cases
- [Boeing 767-34AF](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-767-34af): 2 cases
- [Boeing 757-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-232): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA27LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA27LA017), Oct 20, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N744CJ), Kinnelon, NJ, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB DCA26LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA282), Jul 14, 2026: Airbus A321-211 (N382DN), New York, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The first officer’s excessive aft sidestick input following a bounced landing, and the line check pilot’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in an increase in the airplane’s pitch attitude and a…
- [NTSB WPR26LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA172), Apr 29, 2026: Bell 407 (N407BB), Young, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree stump during landing in mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB DCA26LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA142), Feb 27, 2026: Boeing 787 (JA873A), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The captain’s inadvertent activation of the takeoff/go around switch at touchdown that caused an increase in the airplane pitch attitude that was not corrected before the lower fuselage contacted the…
- [NTSB DCA26LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA115), Feb 9, 2026: Airbus A321-271NX (N2188J), San Francisco, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The first officer’s excessive aft sidestick input combined with decaying airspeed during initiation of a go-around, resulting in an increase in the airplane pitch attitude and subsequent lower…
- [NTSB DCA26WA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA051), Dec 3, 2025: BAE BAE146 (CC-ARN), Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, Chile, incident
- [NTSB ANC25LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA092), Aug 22, 2025: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N149TH), Juneau, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during takeoff from uneven, snow-covered terrain in flat light conditions.
- [NTSB DCA25LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA286), Jul 14, 2025: Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR (N224JQ), Boston, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The captain’s decision to continue the landing after the bounce and the subsequent misapplication of pitch controls. Contributing to the accident was the ongoing “land and hold short” operations that…
- [NTSB DCA25LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA266), Jul 12, 2025: Airbus A320-251N (N384FR), Denver, CO, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB DCA25LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA251), Jul 2, 2025: Boeing 737-924ER (N66831), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The first officer’s failure to maintain proper pitch attitude during flare which resulted in a bounced landing and a tailstrike.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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