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 more susceptible to tail strikes.​
