FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)WeatherHard
On short final, a pilot experiences a sudden increase in headwind lasting only a few seconds, immediately followed by a rapid shift to a strong tailwind and a pronounced downdraft. Which hazardous weather phenomenon does this describe?
- AMountain wave turbulence
- BWake turbulence
- CMicroburst
- DFrontal wind shift
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Microburst
A microburst produces a strong, localized downdraft that spreads outward upon reaching the surface, causing a rapid transition from increasing headwind to decreasing headwind/tailwind along with a severe downdraft—an extremely hazardous condition for aircraft on approach or departure.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Mountain wave turbulence occurs downwind of mountains and does not produce this rapid headwind-to-tailwind reversal near the surface.
- B. Wake turbulence comes from wingtip vortices of preceding aircraft, not from convective downdrafts.
- D. A frontal wind shift occurs over minutes to hours during frontal passage, not within seconds on final approach.
Microburst
A small-scale, intense downdraft that spreads outward at the surface, producing rapid and dangerous changes in wind speed and direction, often associated with thunderstorms.
- Downdrafts can exceed 6,000 feet per minute
- Causes a headwind followed by a sudden tailwind and loss of performance
- Typically short-lived, lasting 5 to 15 minutes
Memory trick: 'Microburst: a fist punching down and splashing outward'