Definition
A change in wind speed and/or direction over a relatively short distance; a microburst is an intense localized downdraft with divergent outflow.
Why it matters
Low-height performance margins may be quickly overwhelmed, demanding avoidance or the aircraft's approved escape guidance.
Questions that turn reading into a defensible review
A strong review separates the event description, possible precursors, recorded evidence, approved criteria, and the final safety decision.
What exactly is being examined?
A change in wind speed and/or direction over a relatively short distance; a microburst is an intense localized downdraft with divergent outflow.
Which conditions could build the exposure?
Convective cells and microbursts; Frontal or terrain-related wind change.
What evidence would strengthen the picture?
Airspeed, vertical speed, thrust, pitch, radio altitude, and warning states Weather and wind context by runway
What must remain authoritative?
Current approved aircraft data, operator procedures, investigation findings, and the source document’s own scope control any operational conclusion.
Timeline, aircraft state, relationships, and recurrence
Radio altitude, Vertical speed, Calibrated airspeed, Pitch attitude, Engine thrust can contribute to a synchronized event picture when their mappings, units, sampling, and flight-phase logic are validated.
Cause, intent, compliance, and technical disposition
An FDM alert or pattern is not by itself a causal finding, judgement of individual performance, regulatory conclusion, or aircraft maintenance and airworthiness determination.
Reports, approved criteria, context, and authoritative evidence
Combine the recorded picture with applicable procedures, crew and operational reports, weather or airport information, technical evidence, and the linked official publications and investigation sources.
Microburst energy path
Headwind gain can be followed by downdraft and tailwind loss across a small area.
Common causes and precursors
- →
Convective cells and microbursts
- →
Frontal or terrain-related wind change
- →
Gust fronts near the airport
Operational risks
- R1
Sudden airspeed and path loss
- R2
Hard landing or runway excursion
- R3
Ground impact
Guidance themes
These are cross-source themes for orientation. Apply only the current, approved material for the aircraft and operation.
- Respect predictive and reactive warnings
- Avoid hazardous convective areas
- Follow approved windshear escape guidance
Safety actions to consider
Use weather-data and FDM correlation
Train recognition and escape
Review go-around decisions around convection
Parameters that help explain the event
A useful event picture comes from signal relationships—not a single exceedance or a generic threshold.
Radio altitude
Radio altitude provides the low-height reference needed to align approach gates, flare, touchdown, warning, and go-around events.
Open parameter guide ↗ft/min or m/sVertical speed
It helps describe energy management, approach stability, flare development, and the severity context of a touchdown.
Open parameter guide ↗ktCalibrated airspeed
Speed relative to the applicable target and configuration is central to energy management, approach stability, runway performance, and stall margin.
Open parameter guide ↗degPitch attitude
Pitch shows rotation, flare, stall response, and potential tail-clearance context when combined with gear geometry and radio altitude.
Open parameter guide ↗% / ratio / aircraft-specificEngine thrust
Thrust is a primary part of energy control and is essential for understanding approach corrections, takeoff, go-around, and engine malfunctions.
Open parameter guide ↗Recommended monitoring questions
Airspeed, vertical speed, thrust, pitch, radio altitude, and warning states
Weather and wind context by runway
Cases that add context
ASIP provides a concise learning index. The investigation authority report remains the definitive source.
Editor-reviewed starting points
These records include a deeper ASIP editorial review. Continue to the full evidence index below for direct matches and broader manufacturer, regulator, and investigation reading.
AC 91-79B — Aircraft Landing Performance and Runway Excursion Mitigation
This FAA circular brings together landing-performance planning, time-of-arrival assessment, RCAM information, and operational practices for reducing runway-excursion risk.
Official sourceSafety Alert SA-077 — Stabilized Approaches Lead to Safe Landings
The NTSB alert highlights the need to establish and maintain a stabilized approach and to go around when an approach falls outside applicable criteria.
Official sourceTitle or indexed metadata explicitly matches this topic.
Related collection material for adjacent systems, phases, and defenses.
Manufacturer, regulator, investigation, and safety-organization sources.
Where the reading comes from
62 source records
Official links · no copied report files62 source records match the current evidence filters.
Wind shear: an invisible enemy to pilots?
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for weather. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 23001 — Potential Damage to Nose Landing Gear (NLG) by Improper Towing Procedures of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jet (MHIRJ) (formerly Bombardier) CL-600-2B19, CL-600-2C10 and CL-600-2D24 Airplanes
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and ground operations. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 22001 — SAFO 22001, Recommended Procedures for Operators of Boeing DC-9/MD-80 Series and B717 Model Airplanes When Wind/Ground Gusts Meet or Exceed Criteria Specified in the Applicable Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM)
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for weather and maintenance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 21004 — SAFO 21004, Air Traffic Control (ATC) Notification and Pilot Awareness When Conducting an Instrument Landing System (ILS) Autoland Procedure
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 18009 — SAFO 18009, Risk of Runway Number Transposition Leading to a possible "Runway Overrun" During Takeoff at San Francisco International Airport ( SFO )
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and takeoff. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 17011 — SAFO 17011, Runway Status Lights ( RWSL )
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and runway safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 17012 — SAFO 17012, High Collision Risk During Runway Crossing
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and runway safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 16008 — SAFO 16008, Reducing the Risk of Runway Excursions During Takeoff
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and takeoff. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 16009 — SAFO 16009, Runway Assessment and Condition Reporting, Effective October 1, 2016
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and runway safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 11004 — Runway Incursion Prevention Actions
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and runway safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 11009 — Runway Status Lights ( RWSL ), for posting on the FAA public website for SAFOs
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and runway safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 11011 — Runway Excursions at Jackson Hole Airport ( JAC )
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and runway safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 10001 — Possible effects of Thickened Anti-icing Fluids on Takeoff Rotation for Airplanes withUnpowered Elevator Controls
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for takeoff and weather. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 10006 — In-Flight Icing Operations and Training Recommendations
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for weather and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 10007 — Tundra Tire Installation/Approval for Airplanes Equipped with Leaf Spring Type Main Landing Gear
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 09016 — Rejected Landing Due to Loss of Visibility
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and takeoff. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 09017 — Training for Bombardier Learjet 60 (Learjet 60) Pilots on Inadvertent Thrust Reverser Stowageon Takeoff and Landing
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and takeoff. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 08003 — Guidance Material for Contaminated Runway Landing Operations
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and runway safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceLessons learned
1An improving headwind can reverse rapidly
2Avoidance provides more margin than recovery