What occurs when an aircraft experiences a stall?

When an aircraft experiences a stall, it means that it has exceeded the critical angle of attack, which is the angle at which the wings can no longer generate sufficient lift to support the weight of the aircraft. At this point, airflow over the wing becomes turbulent and detached, leading to a significant reduction in lift. This loss of lift is primarily due to the airflow separating from the upper surface of the wing, causing the aircraft to become less effective in maintaining altitude.

Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for pilots, as stalls can occur during various maneuvers, especially those involving high angles of ascent or abrupt changes in flight direction. Recovery from a stall typically involves lowering the nose of the aircraft to reduce the angle of attack and allowing airspeed to build back up, restoring effective lift generation.

Other answers may refer to circumstances related to flight dynamics but do not accurately depict the specific condition of a stall, which is fundamentally tied to the relationship between angle of attack and lift production.