In aviation terms, what defines a stall?

• A. The wing stops generating the required lift for flight due to exceeding the critical angle of attack
• B. The engine fails
• C. The aircraft stalls only at high altitude
• D. The wings twist causing stall

Answer: (A)

A stall is when the wing can no longer generate the required lift because the angle at which the wing meets the oncoming air has exceeded a critical value. When that angle becomes too steep, the airflow can no longer follow the wing’s surface smoothly and instead separates, causing a sharp drop in lift and often a noticeable increase in buffet. This is an aerodynamic phenomenon, not a failure of the engine or a condition tied to being at a particular altitude. You can stall at any altitude if the angle of attack is too high, typically when the aircraft is flown too slowly or pulled into a steep pitch. The other ideas describe different issues—engine power loss, stalling only at high altitude, or a structural twist—none of which defines what a stall is.