The application relates to systems and methods to prevent an aircraft from tail contact with the ground. Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for limiting elevator deflection commands to avoid the aft body of an aircraft from contacting the ground during a landing maneuver. In one example, a system includes a processor and a memory configured to store a plurality of executable instructions. The processor is configured to determine a descent profile and a current pitch profile. A pre-determined maximum pitch profile associated with the descent profile is used to compare to the current pitch profile. The comparison is used to compute an elevator deflection value that limits an elevator command signal in order to avoid a tail strike. Additional systems and methods are also provided.