Definition
A practice maneuver in which the airplane is intentionally brought to a stall while engine power is set at takeoff or climb power, simulating the conditions in which an inadvertent stall is most likely to occur during departure or go-around. The pilot reduces airspeed in a takeoff or climb configuration, raises the nose to the stall, recognizes the stall indications, and recovers by reducing the angle of attack while applying full power and using rudder to maintain coordinated flight.
Plain English
A training exercise where the pilot deliberately stalls the airplane with the engine producing climb or takeoff power, so they learn to recognize and recover from a stall during the kind of high-power, nose-up situation that happens just after takeoff or during a go-around.
Context Anchor
Seen in stall recognition and recovery training, especially in situations that resemble takeoff and climb with power applied.
Derivation
“Power-on” means engine power is applied. “Stall” originally carries the idea of stopping, but in aviation it means the wing has stopped producing smooth, effective lift because the airflow over it has broken down—not that the engine has stopped.
Why Pilots Care
Teaches safe recovery at low altitude where power is normally used and a stall can lead to rapid loss of control.
Grounding Statement
Picture adding power and raising the nose to climb; if the nose keeps rising while speed falls, the wings can reach a point where they stop flying smoothly even though the engine is still producing power.
Intuition Check
A power-on stall does not mean the engine has stalled; the engine is still producing power. The stall is in the wing, caused by too much nose-up angle for the airplane’s speed.
Example Sentence 1
During the checkride, the examiner asked the applicant to demonstrate a power-on stall in the takeoff configuration.
Example Sentence 2
Recovering from a power-on stall requires reducing angle of attack while maintaining directional control with rudder.