Definition
An aggravated stall in which the airplane descends in a corkscrew path while rotating about its vertical axis, with one wing more deeply stalled than the other. The airplane is simultaneously stalled, yawing, rolling, and pitching nose-down at a high rate of descent.
Plain English
A spin happens when the wings stop flying and the airplane starts rotating downward in a tight spiral, nose-low, while falling fast. Both wings are stalled, but one is stalled more than the other, which is what makes the airplane rotate.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of stalls, turns at slow speed, and why pilots avoid letting the airplane get too slow while it is turning.
Derivation
Spin comes from an old word meaning to twist or turn. That helps here because the aviation meaning is built around rotation, but with the important added fact that the airplane is also stalled and descending.
Why Pilots Care
Spins can lead to rapid loss of altitude and control if not recognized and recovered from using the correct procedure.
Grounding Statement
A spin is a stalled airplane rotating downward, not a normal turn.
Intuition Check
Do not read spin as simply “turning around.” In aviation, a spin means a stalled, descending rotation that requires specific recovery action.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor emphasized that uncoordinated flight near the stall, especially in a skidding turn from base to final, is the classic setup for an unintentional spin.
Example Sentence 2
To recover from a spin, the pilot reduces power, applies opposite rudder, and lowers the nose to break the stall.