What is the primary cause of stalls in flight?

Stalls in flight primarily occur due to an excessive angle of attack. The angle of attack is defined as the angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind. When this angle increases beyond a critical threshold, the airflow over the wing can no longer remain attached, leading to a loss of lift. This phenomenon can happen regardless of the aircraft's speed or configurations.

The reason that angle of attack is crucial is that it directly influences the wings' performance. Unlike what might commonly be assumed, a stall is not caused by flying too fast; instead, it is about the relationship between the wing's position and the airflow. Even at higher speeds, if the angle of attack exceeds the critical limit, a stall can occur.

Understanding stalls emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper control throughout various phases of flight, especially during turns and climbs where the bank angle can also contribute to an increased angle of attack. However, improper use of throttle or bank angles alone do not directly lead to stalls as unequivocally as exceeding the critical angle of attack does. This makes recognizing and controlling the angle of attack fundamental to safe flying practices.