"Low Level Wind Shear" is the technical name. It is the ninth leading cause of landing and takeoff fatalities. It makes sense when you realize that airplanes

"Low Level Wind Shear" is the technical name. It is the ninth leading cause of landing and takeoff fatalities. It makes sense when you realize that airplanes can only fly when the apparent wind (their speed through the air) is high enough, and landing and takeoff is when you are crossing that transition zone between high enough to fly, and not flying. If you go from a 10 kt. headwind to 10 kt. tailwind fast enough, it is exactly like losing 20 kts. of speed. Especially on small prop planes, that is more than enough speed difference to go from comfortable approach speed to dangerously close to stall speed.