Definition
To apply more engine power than the current flight condition or procedure calls for, causing the aircraft to deviate from the intended performance — typically resulting in unwanted climb, acceleration, or pitch change that the pilot must then correct.
Plain English
Adding too much power for what you're trying to do, so the airplane does more than you wanted — climbs faster, speeds up, or pitches up — and you have to fix it.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when setting power to hold a target airspeed, altitude, climb, descent, or approach path.
Derivation
Overpower combines “over,” meaning too much or beyond the proper amount, with “power,” meaning the engine force used to move the airplane. In this aviation use, it points to having more engine power than the situation calls for.
Why Pilots Care
Overpowering stresses the engine, raises fuel consumption, and can produce unwanted pitch and airspeed changes that increase pilot workload.
Grounding Statement
If pitch stays about the same and you add more power than needed, the airplane will usually speed up or climb instead of staying on the planned path.
Intuition Check
Overpower does not mean the engine is stronger than the flight controls. Here it means the pilot has selected too much engine power for the desired flight condition.
Example Sentence 1
She overpowered the level-off and climbed 80 feet above her assigned altitude before catching it.
Example Sentence 2
In instrument conditions, overpowering the aircraft produced a sudden nose-up pitch that required immediate correction.