Definition
The pilot actions taken to break a stall and return the wing to normal lift-producing flight. The standard recovery sequence is: reduce the angle of attack by lowering the nose (releasing back pressure or applying forward control input), level the wings with coordinated rudder and aileron, apply appropriate power, and return to the desired flight path with minimum loss of altitude.
Plain English
The steps a pilot takes to get the wing flying again after it has stalled — push the nose down to reduce the angle of attack, level the wings, add power, and climb back to the altitude they want.
Context Anchor
You encounter stall recovery in flight training, slow-flight practice, landing practice, and any situation where the stall warning sounds or the airplane begins to feel weak, shaky, or hard to control.
Derivation
Stall originally means to stop or come to a standstill. In aviation, a stall means the wing is no longer producing smooth, reliable lift because the air is not flowing over it properly. Recovery means returning to a normal or usable condition, so stall recovery means returning the airplane from a stalled condition to controlled flight.
Why Pilots Care
Correct stall recovery prevents a spin or uncontrolled descent; incorrect technique can make the situation worse.
Grounding Statement
The key idea is: make the wing fly again first, then climb or return to the planned flight path.
Intuition Check
Do not think of stall recovery as simply adding power or pulling the nose up to stop descending. In a stall, the first need is to reduce the wing’s angle to the air so the wing can start lifting normally again.
Example Sentence 1
After the stall warning sounded, the student initiated the stall recovery by lowering the nose, leveling the wings, and adding full power.
Example Sentence 2
After completing stall recovery from a power-on stall, the pilot applied full power and returned to level flight.