# NTSB investigations: Aircraft wake turb encounter

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB DCA26WA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA089.md): Boeing 737-800 · (Birmingham, United Kingdom · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Dec 28, 2025 · EI-HGO · No damage
- [NTSB GAA25WA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA25WA279.md): Beech 1900 · Aix-les-Milles, France · Occurrence · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · May 27, 2025 · F-GLNE · No damage
- [NTSB CEN25LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA132.md): Taylorcraft BC12 · Russellville, AR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 22, 2025 · N39158 · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the U.S. Army helicopter pilots to yield the right-of-way to the landing airplane, which resulted in the airplane encountering wake turbulence emitted from the three departing U.S. Army helicopters, a subsequent loss of directional control, and…
- [NTSB ANC25LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA020.md): Cessna 172M · Kapolei, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 20, 2025 · N19867 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to avoid wake turbulence from a heavy airplane departing from a parallel runway, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during initial climb after a touch-and-go landing.
- [NTSB WPR25LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA041.md): Cirrus Design SR22T · Palm Springs, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 17, 2024 · N828PS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC24LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA093.md): Cessna 180B · Anchorage, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 14, 2024 · N5275E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.
- [NTSB ERA24LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA212.md): Piper PA-20-135 · Georgetown, OH · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 2, 2024 · N8290C · Substantial damage
  > An inadvertent encounter with the rotor wash of a nearby hovering helicopter during landing, which resulted in a loss of control and a runway excursion.
- [NTSB WPR24LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA085.md): Evektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA · Santa Ana, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 11, 2024 · N377YG · Substantial damage
  > A loss of airplane control due to wake turbulence resulting from the instructor pilot’s decision to continue the landing into a drifting wake vortex.
- [NTSB ERA23LA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA353.md): Bellanca 7ECA · Hopkinsville, KY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 28, 2023 · N8679V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent encounter with helicopter wake turbulence during initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB WPR23LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA277.md): Evolution Revolt · Casper, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 17, 2023 · N277GH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing after encountering wake turbulence.
- [NTSB WPR23LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA146.md): Cessna 172M · Santa Ana, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 1, 2023 · N1399U · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA304.md): Arion Lightning · Indiana, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 10, 2022 · N326AL · Substantial damage
  > The airplane pilot’s inadvertent encounter with rotor wash/turbulence during short final approach, which resulted in a loss of control in flight.
- [NTSB ERA22LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA089.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Knoxville, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 16, 2021 · N162AM · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s encounter with a wake vortex from a preceding airplane, which resulted in a roll upset at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the failure of ATC to issue a wake turbulence cautionary advisory.
- [NTSB CEN21FA426](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA426.md): Rans S20 · Wadsworth, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 18, 2021 · N6915G · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to depart shortly after a landing helicopter, which resulted in an encounter with the helicopter’s wake turbulence and a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment by his recent use of ethanol.
- [NTSB DCA18CA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA289.md): Boeing 737 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 11, 2018 · N950NN · No damage
  > an inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence.
- [NTSB ERA18LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA002.md): Cessna 182 · San Juan, PR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 2, 2017 · N9021X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate distance from helicopters during the approach for landing, resulting in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB DCA17WA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17WA094.md): Canadair CL604 · Arabian Sea, A1 · Accident · No injuries · Foreign investigation · Jan 7, 2017 · D-AMSC
  > The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a Canadair CL-604, which occurred on January 7, 2017. The NTSB has appointed a U.S Accredited Representative to assist under the provisions of…
- [NTSB WPR16FA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA172.md): Beech A36 · Sparks, NV · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 31, 2016 · N985CA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's selection of a landing runway which, given the wind and traffic conditions, was susceptible to high crosswinds and the translation of wake turbulence across its approach path, and the controller's and pilot's failure to ensure separation from the…
- [NTSB WPR16FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA086.md): Airborne XT 912 · Hawthorne, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 21, 2016 · N670EM · Destroyed
  > The weight shift control aircraft encounter with a wake vortex from a preceding airplane, which resulted in a roll upset at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the accident pilot's failure to recognize the potential for a wake…
- [NTSB CEN14CA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA455.md): Embraer S A ERJ170-200LR · Hemphill, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 22, 2014 · N421YX · No damage
  > The airplane's inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence during cruise flight, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
- [NTSB ERA14LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA147.md): Cessna 172D · Fairhope, AL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 8, 2014 · N2755U · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation from a helicopter during the approach to landing, which resulted in an encounter with the helicopter’s trailing vortices, a loss of airplane control, and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA14CA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA150.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Salisbury, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 8, 2014 · N4335T · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's decision to continue the landing in close proximity to a landing helicopter, resulting in an encounter with rotor vortices, loss of airplane control, and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN13FA438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA438.md): Piper PA-28R-200 · Lake Michigan, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 2013 · N1549X · Destroyed
  > An encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of control of the airplane and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the approach controller’s failure to issue a wake turbulence advisory to the pilot.
- [NTSB ANC13LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13LA067.md): Cessna 180A · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2013 · N4814 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of directional control of the airplane during a wheel landing.
- [NTSB CEN13TA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13TA113.md): Cessna 550 · Oklahoma City, OK · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Dec 21, 2012 · N753CC · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew's decision to fly close behind a heavy airplane, which did not ensure there was adequate distance and time in order to avoid a wake turbulence encounter with the preceding heavy airplane’s wake vortex, which resulted in a loss of airplane…
- [NTSB WPR12FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA067.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 15, 2011 · N7850P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a corporate jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and a subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB CEN09CA544](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA544.md): Piper PA-18 · Aspen, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 9, 2009 · N350CC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a preceding large business jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence.
- [NTSB DFW08TA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08TA225.md): Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-20-C-1 · Pueblo, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Sep 8, 2008 · N939DA · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to an encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding larger aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the instructor pilot's failure to intervene.
- [NTSB NYC08TA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08TA130.md): Cessna 180 · Spartanburg, SC · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Mar 11, 2008 · N1044Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's encounter with wake turbulence during approach as a result of his inadequate in-flight planning.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '361')
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361/cases

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