Definition
Aft (rearward) movement of the control yoke or stick that deflects the elevator surface upward, raising the airplane's nose by increasing the angle of attack of the horizontal tail's downward force.
Plain English
Pulling back on the yoke or stick. This makes the nose pitch up.
Context Anchor
Used in tailwheel airplane landing technique, especially during the later part of a wheel landing as the tail lowers to the runway.
Derivation
"Back" describes the direction the pilot moves the control — toward themselves. "Elevator" is the hinged surface on the tail that controls pitch. Together the phrase names both the input and the surface it moves.
Why Pilots Care
Correct back elevator input prevents the tailwheel from striking the ground prematurely, reducing the risk of loss of directional control or a ground loop.
Intuition Check
Back elevator does not mean an elevator located at the back of the airplane. It means pulling the elevator control back toward you.
Example Sentence 1
After the main wheels touched, the instructor told her to relax the back elevator slightly to keep the airplane on the runway.
Example Sentence 2
As speed decreased during the wheel landing rollout, the pilot gradually relaxed back elevator to let the tail settle.