Definition
A power-on stall practiced to simulate the conditions and airplane configuration most likely to result in an unintentional stall during takeoff and initial climb. The maneuver is performed at takeoff or climb power with the airplane in a takeoff or departure configuration, and the pitch attitude is increased until the stall occurs.
Plain English
A practice stall set up to mimic what could happen if the pilot pulled the nose up too high right after takeoff. The engine is at climb power, the airplane is configured like it just left the runway, and the pilot raises the nose until the wing stalls.
Context Anchor
Seen in takeoff, climbout, and power-on stall training, especially when practicing the kind of stall that could happen shortly after liftoff.
Derivation
Called a 'departure' stall because it recreates the flight conditions of departure -- the takeoff and initial climb phase -- where this kind of stall is most likely to happen for real.
Why Pilots Care
Low altitude leaves almost no margin for recovery, making departure stalls a frequent factor in fatal accidents.
Intuition Check
A departure stall is not an engine stall. The engine may be producing full power; the problem is that the wings are being asked to fly at too high a nose-up angle.
Example Sentence 1
During the checkride, the examiner asked the applicant to demonstrate a departure stall in the takeoff configuration with full power.
Example Sentence 2
Recognizing the buffeting early allows a pilot to lower the nose and recover from a departure stall with minimal altitude loss.