N814HK – EMBRAER EMB-145LR – 2008-08-14 NTSB Accident Report

On August 14, 2008, a Embraer EMB-145LR (N814HK) was involved in an incident near St. Louis, MO. All 36 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The flying pilot's excessive angle of attack during the landing flare resulting in abnormal runway contact.

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.

This incident is documented in NTSB report DFW08CA215. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N814HK.