AIM 

4/20/23 

FIG 7

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14 

Microburst Encounter During Takeoff 

A microburst encounter during takeoff. The airplane first encounters a headwind and experiences increasing 

performance (1), this is followed in short succession by a decreasing headwind component (2), a downdraft 

(3), and finally a strong tailwind (4), where 2 through 5 all result in decreasing performance of the airplane. 

Position (5) represents an extreme situation just prior to impact. Figure courtesy of Walter Frost, FWG 

Associates, Inc., Tullahoma, Tennessee. 

e. 

Microburst wind shear may create a severe hazard for aircraft within 1,000 feet of the ground, particularly 

during the approach to landing and landing and take-off phases. The impact of a microburst on aircraft which 

have the unfortunate experience of penetrating one is characterized in FIG 7

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1

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14. The aircraft may encounter 

a headwind (performance increasing) followed by a downdraft and tailwind (both performance decreasing), 

possibly resulting in terrain impact. 

Meteorology

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52