What is one major risk associated with flying an overloaded aircraft?

Flying an overloaded aircraft significantly increases the risk of stalling because it affects the aircraft's performance characteristics. When an aircraft is overloaded, its weight exceeds the designed limit, leading to a reduction in its ability to maneuver safely.

An overloaded aircraft requires a higher angle of attack to maintain level flight compared to a properly loaded aircraft. As this angle increases, the risk of reaching the critical angle of attack — the point where lift begins to decrease instead of increase — rises dramatically. If this critical angle is exceeded, the aircraft will stall. Moreover, an overloaded aircraft may have reduced control authority, lessened climb performance, and an extended landing distance, all of which contribute to a higher likelihood of experiencing a stall under various flight conditions.

In contrast, other options such as increased efficiency during flight, a higher likelihood of turbulence encounters, and decreased fuel consumption are not characteristic of flying an overloaded aircraft. Overloading generally leads to poorer performance rather than enhanced efficiency or stability.