1.   Greg Hill directed the first command to Simba, whose tail hit the floor almost immediately.

2.   It appears that the pilot realized he was too low and pulled up sharply, causing the tail to hit the ground first.

3.   The agency said the plane made a steeper-than-usual takeoff and the tail hit the ground.

4.   The pilot tried to adjust the overloaded, Soviet-built transport helicopter and land elsewhere but the tail hit a tree and was sheared off.