What constitutes a stall in aviation?

A stall in aviation is defined as a condition where the airflow over the wing separates from the wing surface, leading to a significant reduction in lift. This can occur when the angle of attack—the angle between the wing and the oncoming air—exceeds a certain critical value. When this happens, the smooth airflow that is necessary for creating lift is disrupted, and the aircraft can no longer maintain altitude.

Understanding stalls is crucial for pilots, as they must recognize the symptoms of an impending stall and know how to recover from it safely. The factors that can lead to a stall include flying at too slow of a speed, a high angle of attack, or sudden maneuvers that exceed the aircraft’s aerodynamic limits.

The other options do not accurately describe a stall. A complete loss of control of the aircraft might occur due to various reasons but is not specific to a stall condition. Exceeding maximum speed is related to structural integrity rather than lift loss, and a sudden drop in altitude without control could also result from various flight conditions but does not define a stall either.