At what condition is a plane most likely to stall?

At what condition is a plane most likely to stall?

• A. During descent
• B. At high speed
• C. During a steep turn
• D. Landing approach

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is that a plane is most likely to stall during a steep turn. This situation arises because during a steep turn, the aircraft experiences increased load factor, which demands a higher angle of attack to maintain level flight. As the angle of attack increases beyond the critical threshold, the airflow over the wings can become disrupted, leading to a stall. In a steep turn, pilots may also be focusing on maintaining the turn's radius and altitude, potentially causing them to inadvertently exceed the aircraft's stall speed. The combination of these factors makes a steep turn one of the most critical conditions regarding stall risk. When considering the other scenarios, during descent, the aircraft is typically at a lower angle of attack and not as close to the stall margin. In high-speed flight, the stall speed is effectively higher due to the dynamic pressure on the wings. While the landing approach can present stall risk, it generally involves more awareness and preparation by pilots, who are usually trained to manage the approach appropriately to prevent stalling. Thus, the steep turn represents a unique situation where multiple factors converge to increase the likelihood of a stall.

The correct answer is that a plane is most likely to stall during a steep turn. This situation arises because during a steep turn, the aircraft experiences increased load factor, which demands a higher angle of attack to maintain level flight. As the angle of attack increases beyond the critical threshold, the airflow over the wings can become disrupted, leading to a stall.

In a steep turn, pilots may also be focusing on maintaining the turn's radius and altitude, potentially causing them to inadvertently exceed the aircraft's stall speed. The combination of these factors makes a steep turn one of the most critical conditions regarding stall risk.

When considering the other scenarios, during descent, the aircraft is typically at a lower angle of attack and not as close to the stall margin. In high-speed flight, the stall speed is effectively higher due to the dynamic pressure on the wings. While the landing approach can present stall risk, it generally involves more awareness and preparation by pilots, who are usually trained to manage the approach appropriately to prevent stalling. Thus, the steep turn represents a unique situation where multiple factors converge to increase the likelihood of a stall.