What A Stall Is

At a specific critical angle of attack, smooth airflow over the wing is no longer possible. A wing stall results when this critical angle of attack is exceeded. Accidental stalls normally occur as a result of flying too slow on takeoff or approach to landing. However, it is possible to exceed the critical angle of attack and stall an airplane at any airspeed or airplane orientation.

Once the wing exceeds the critical angle of attack, the amount of lift produced by the wing drops sharply. The angle of attack must be reduced to recover from the stall.

What A Stall Is Not

Many students think of the engine stalling. This is an understandable assumption, but wing stalls are not connected with engine failures. A stall can occur at any power setting.

Why Stall Training Is Necessary

Stall training teaches the student what the airplane feels like when it is approaching a stall, as well as what happens when the airplane stalls. By practicing and becoming proficient at stalls, the student will be able to read the warning signs of an impending stall and take appropriate action to avoid stalling the airplane. If the airplane should be accidentally made to stall, the pilot will be able to take appropriate action to recover from that stalled condition.

Since accidental stalls typically occur just after takeoff or when approaching the airport for landing, stall training is focused on these two scenarios. During flight training, you will become proficient at recovery just prior to a stall. You will learn how to recover from a stall during approach for landing, known as a power off stall. You will also learn to recover from a departure stall, also called a power on stall.