During a spin, which wing is primarily stalled?

In a spin, both wings are indeed stalled, but they are not stalled in the same way. The angle of attack exceeds the critical angle for both wings, which is what causes the stall. However, the dynamics of the spin lead to an asymmetrical airflow over each wing.

During a spin, one wing generally experiences a more significant stall and generates less lift compared to the other due to the difference in airflow. The downward-moving wing, which is typically the inward wing, will be at a higher angle of attack and will be more fully stalled, contributing to the spin's rotation. In contrast, the upward-moving wing often reaches a critical angle of attack as well, which is why it can still be considered stalled.

While the total aerodynamic state of the aircraft includes both wings being in stall conditions, it's essential to understand that their roles differ during the spin. Correctly recognizing that both wings are stalled provides insight into how spins recover and the importance of managing control inputs and understanding stall dynamics during recovery procedures.