Definition
Flight maneuvers in which the airplane is pitched well below the horizon at a sharp downward angle, producing a rapid loss of altitude and a quick build-up of airspeed. In the context of accelerated stalls, steep dives are referenced as one of the high-load-factor recovery and maneuvering situations in which a stall can occur at airspeeds well above the published stall speed because the wing is being asked to produce more lift than in level flight.
Plain English
A steep dive is when the nose is pointed sharply down toward the ground and the airplane is descending fast, gaining speed quickly. Pulling out of a dive like this loads the wings heavily, which is why a stall can happen even at higher-than-normal airspeeds.
Context Anchor
Seen in accelerated-stall training when discussing how abrupt pull-outs or sharp control inputs can overload the wing.
Derivation
Steep comes from an old word meaning high or sharply rising. Dive originally means to plunge downward, like going under water. Together, the words help picture an airplane plunging downward on a sharply angled path.
Why Pilots Care
Recovering from a steep dive with abrupt or excessive back pressure can produce an accelerated stall at a higher airspeed than a normal stall.
Grounding Statement
In a steep dive, the danger is not only descending fast; it is also pulling out so sharply that the wing is forced past what it can handle.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a stall only happens when the airplane is slow. In a steep dive, a hard pull can make the wing stall even while the airplane is moving fast.
Example Sentence 1
The handbook warns that pulling out of steep dives too abruptly can produce an accelerated stall, even when the airspeed appears safe.
Example Sentence 2
During the maneuver, the pilot avoided pulling too hard on recovery from the steep dive to prevent an accelerated stall.