In Atlas Air 3591, what was a contributing factor to the loss of control that followed the mode change?

• A. Accurate anticipation of the mode change
• B. Perfect response to automation
• C. Good stall recovery practice
• D. Somatogravic illusion

Answer: (C)

When an automatic flight mode changes during an upset, the airplane can behave very differently from how it does in normal, manual flight. The mode switch sets a new flight regime with its own protections, limitations, and expected pilot actions. In Atlas Air 3591, the situation progressed into a high-energy upset after a mode change, and the pilots applied a stall-recovery procedure that is sound and taught for standard stalls. But because the aircraft was in a different automation mode and energy state due to the mode change, those usual stall-recovery inputs did not restore stable flight quickly. The interaction between the ongoing mode change and the recovery actions meant the airplane continued to diverge rather than recover, making the stall-recovery effort itself a contributing factor in the loss of control. This highlights that even good stall-recovery practice must be coordinated with the active automation mode and the aircraft’s current energy state to be effective in an upset.