What is a stall?

• A. Loss of lift from exceeding the critical angle of attack.
• B. Loss of thrust due to engine failure.
• C. Loss of speed due to tailwind.
• D. Yaw due to crosswind.

Answer: (A)

A stall is when the wing’s angle of attack is pushed beyond its critical limit, causing the airflow over the wing to separate. When that happens, the wing can no longer generate the same amount of lift, so the airplane loses lift abruptly and begins to descend unless the airspeed is increased and the angle of attack is reduced. It’s about the relationship between the wing and the oncoming air, not about engine power, wind direction, or yaw from crosswinds. You can stall even at high airspeeds if the angle of attack is too high, but it’s most common at low speeds with a nose-up attitude. To recover, lower the nose to reduce the angle of attack and add power to rebuild airspeed, allowing the flow to reattach and lift to return.