In a level turn, which wing should stall first?

In a level turn, the inside or lower wing is the one that is more susceptible to stalling first due to the concept of load factor and angle of attack. When an aircraft enters a turn, the load factor increases, requiring the pilot to maintain a higher angle of attack in order to keep the turn level. The inside wing, which is the wing closer to the center of the turn, experiences a higher angle of attack relative to its stall angle compared to the outside wing.

As the aircraft banks to turn, the lift vector tilts and part of the lift becomes responsible for counteracting the weight of the aircraft. Since the weight is effectively 'pulled' more towards the inside of the turn, the inside wing will require a higher angle of attack to produce the necessary lift. Consequently, if the angle of attack on that inside wing exceeds its critical angle of attack before the outside wing, it will stall first. This is critical for pilots to understand, as it highlights the importance of maintaining control inputs and being aware of the aircraft's performance parameters during turns to prevent uncommanded stalls.