Air carrier Captain reported temporary loss of control on final approach due to turbulence and wind shear.

Date: 2025-07 · Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: approach

Anomalies: inflight-event-encounter-unstabilized-approach|inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence|inflight-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control

Synopsis

Air carrier Captain reported temporary loss of control on final approach due to turbulence and wind shear.

Narrative

Joined the ILS XXL (cleared for visual) at 10000'. ATC asked us to slow to 160kias right as we joined the glideslope and set our bottom altitude at 10000'. I called for gear and final flaps 30; landing checklist. I verbalized that it looked like some virga. Somewhere shortly after (kind of a blur); AP (Autopilot)/AT (Autothrottles) were engaged; throttles were at idle for slowing. We got an abrupt pitch up from the autopilot and about a 20kt loss. I wasn't sure it met the exact parameters; but a recovery was needed. So I grabbed the controls and said 'upset; push; roll; thrust' I disengaged the AP; squeezed the AT; pushed the nose down; wings were mostly level; and applied full thrust. It probably only lasted about 10 seconds; and we recovered and were still in a position to land; and did note any exceedence. We encountered a few normal gusts on the remainder of final; landed uneventfully on XXL. Post flight the FAs did not even note they noticed anything happened on the approach when I asked them.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.