stall

In aerodynamics, a stall occurs when an airfoil or aircraft experiences a disruption of airflow due to an excessive angle of attack. This disruption leads to a significant loss of lift.1

When an aircraft flies, four main forces are at play: lift, drag, weight, and thrust. Lift is generated by the wings' airfoil shape and the speed of the air moving over them. The angle of attack, which is the angle of the wing relative to the wind, is crucial. As this angle increases, lift generally increases, but only up to a certain point.2

If the angle of attack becomes too great, the airflow over the upper surface of the wing separates and becomes turbulent. This condition is known as a stall. When a stall occurs, lift is dramatically reduced, and drag increases, causing the aircraft to lose altitude. Pilots are trained to recognize and recover from stalls to maintain safe flight.2