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Fact check

Is it true: Delta 191 microburst windshear (Aug 2 1985)?

Confirmed5% confidence

Yes — this is confirmed.

NTSB report (August 1986) confirmed microburst-induced windshear caused catastrophic loss of airspeed on approach to DFW Runway 17L. No TDWR existed at DFW; the crew had no actionable warning. 137 killed — 136 aboard and motorist Sherrod Williams on Highway 114. First US fatal accident definitively attributed to microburst windshear. Led to FAA TDWR deployment at 45 airports and mandatory windshear training 1988–1994.

The claim

Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar approaching Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on 2 August 1985, encountered a microburst-induced windshear during approach to Runway 17L. Th

Key evidence

NTSB identified microburst as cause — first such definitive finding in US aviation

Pre-1985 Windshear Training Reflected Scientific State-of-Art

Read the full evidence file

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