# NTSB DFW08CA215: Embraer EMB-145LR, N814HK, St. Louis, MO, August 14, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 14, 2008, 12:52 local (17:52 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.738609, -90.339447
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7386&lon=-90.3394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 36 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO, Trans States Airlines
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68801
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68801/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA215

## Probable cause

The flying pilot's excessive angle of attack during the landing flare resulting in abnormal runway contact.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430); cases with it: [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While en route to the destination airport, the first officer (FO) warned that his flaps 45 degrees landings are "a little extreme." The FO continues by stating that the landings are "a little non-standard, but it’s way more fun." The flight data recorder (FDR) showed an increase in the airplane's pitch angle at approximately 34 feet above ground level. The landing flare continued to increase to approximately 13 degrees of pitch angle with a corresponding angle of attack of 17 degrees. The airplane's stick shaker/stall warning system activated seconds before the landing, during which the airplane's tail section contacted the runway.

## Factual narrative

While en route to the destination airport, the first officer (FO) warned that his flaps 45 degrees landings are "a little extreme." The FO continues by stating that the landings are "a little non-standard, but it’s way more fun." The flight data recorder (FDR) showed an increase in the airplane's pitch angle at approximately 34 feet above ground level. The landing flare continued to increase to approximately 13 degrees of pitch angle with a corresponding angle of attack of 17 degrees. The airplane's stick shaker/stall warning system activated seconds before the landing, during which the airplane's tail section contacted the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N814HK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER EMB-145LR
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 145046
- Airframe hours: 24511
- Engines: Rolls-Royce AE 3007 A1 7426 lbs thrust turbo fan; Rolls-Royce AE 3007 A1 7426 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Trans States Airlines, doing business as American Connection
- Registered owner: Trans States Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 1, 2008
- Departed: JAX, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Destination: KSTL, St. Louis, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KSTL, St. Louis International, runway 30R, 9,003 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 23; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,800 total, 1,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: STL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20080814846459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080814846459A), Aug 14, 2008: Emb EMB145LR, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N814HK, while on approach to land at Lambert-st. Louis international airport (stl), suffered substantial damage to the rear fuselage section of…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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