Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Power-Off Stalls
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Welcome to the latest edition of the Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. Here, we’ll highlight the various maneuvers you’ll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your private pilot checkride. Each maneuver is part of Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course and includes a narrated video animation, along with step-by-step instructions that include performance standards and common errors. Study them while on the ground or print them for quick reference in the airplane.
Power-off stalls—especially in the landing configuration—are designed to teach recognition, not surprise. In this spotlight, we’ll focus on identifying the cues of an imminent and full stall, maintaining coordination throughout the maneuver, and executing a smooth, prompt recovery with minimal altitude loss. We’ll also highlight common errors instructors see during training and on practical tests, so you can build confidence and consistency long before checkride day.
These step-by-step instructions are part of the Flight Maneuvers Guide in Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course, which includes over 15 hours of HD and 4K video that demonstrate how to fly each maneuver, along with complete FAA test prep features.
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Maneuver Spotlight – Power off Stalls:
The recovery technique described is wrong and dangerous. FAA -8083-3C (Airplane Flying Handbook) states that “recovery from the stall is accomplished by reducing the angle of attack (AOA), leveling the wings, maintaining coordinated flight and THEN applying power as needed.” Under objectives in the Private Pilot – Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA -S-ACS-6C) there is no mention of “minimum loss of altitude”. In fact this objective was removed after the final investigation of the Colgan Air Crash in February of 2009. It is obvious why the recovery technique described in your article is dangerous. And, as a recently retired examiner with 40 years of experience, such a recovery, as described in your article would have resulted in a failure.
David Bradley