# NTSB investigations: Vortex turbulence encountered

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.

Page 1 of 3 · 114 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB SEA08CA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA027.md): Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 · Meadview, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 15, 2007 · N810MH · Substantial damage
  > The downward flexing of the standing helicopter's main rotor blades and subsequent impact with its tail boom as a result of another helicopter's rotor blade's vortices..
- [NTSB CHI07CA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA209.md): Air Tractor AT-301 · Lignite, ND · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 15, 2007 · N8841S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's poor in-flight planning and failure to maintain control of the airplane when he encountered his own vortex turbulence at a low altitude.
- [NTSB MIA07CA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA044.md): Airborne Windsports Classic · Sebring, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 26, 2007 · N757LW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's delay on the runway prior to takeoff that resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence from a landing jet that had to perform a go-around.
- [NTSB SEA07IA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07IA019.md): Cessna 172 · Seattle, WA · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 2006 · N9522S · No damage
  > The instructor pilot's improper in-flight decision not to take evasive action as a heavy aircraft passed by while on an upwind parallel approach path to an adjacent runway, leading to a wake vortices encounter. Factors include a nearly direct crosswind…
- [NTSB CHI06FA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06FA154.md): Piper PA-32R-301T · Parkville, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 13, 2006 · N292HH · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improperly planned approach which resulted in the encounter with wake turbulence while the airplane's airspeed exceeded maneuvering speed. This encounter resulted in the subsequent loss of aircraft control and the in-flight separation of the left…
- [NTSB DEN06LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA038.md): Canadair CL-600 · Aspen, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 9, 2006 · N900LG · Substantial damage
  > the flight's encounter with wake turbulence from the departing airplane resulting in the pilot's inability to control the airplane and the subsequent impact with the runway.
- [NTSB CHI05CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA117.md): Aviat A-1B · Lodgepole, SD · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 19, 2005 · N102AM · Substantial damage
  > The poor inflight planning and the pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was the low altitude at which the airplane encoutnered its own wake.
- [NTSB LAX04LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA318.md): Boeing 737-3H4 · Los Angeles, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 14, 2004 · N601WN · No damage
  > the flight's encounter with the wake turbulence from a preceding heavy airplane while on approach.
- [NTSB IAD04CA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04CA015.md): Waco ASO · Lexington, KY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 9, 2004 · N11253 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate remedial action to wake turbulence. A factor was the pilot's failure to recognize that the takeoff conditions were conducive to wake turbulence.
- [NTSB LAX04LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA106.md): Cox Thorpe T-18 · Compton, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 23, 2004 · N64EC · Substantial damage
  > both pilots' failure to see and avoid one another that resulted in the airplane's encounter with downwash induced wake vortices from the helicopter, and the airplane pilot's subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB SEA03LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA196.md): Beech T-34 (A-45) · McCall, ID · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 28, 2003 · N234KC · Substantial damage
  > The inadequacy of the pilot's remedial action taken in an attempt to fly out of an encounter with the wake vortex turbulence created by a preceding aircraft while on short final to land. Factors include calm winds in the area of the final approach course, and…
- [NTSB ATL03FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA115.md): Beech 58P · Memphis, TN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 2, 2003 · N36TL · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with wake turbulence on approach, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain control and subsequent in-flight collision with the ground.
- [NTSB FTW03LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA179.md): Grumman AA-5B · Spring, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 14, 2003 · N81268 · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control due to wake turbulence.
- [NTSB LAX03LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA024.md): Beech 35 · Santa Ana, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2002 · N3373C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's encounter with wake turbulence resulting in a loss of control. A related factor was insufficient separation by air traffic control.
- [NTSB LAX02LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA230.md): Violet Dragonfly · Tucson, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 18, 2002 · N48RV · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control resulting from his improperly planned approach and an inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence.
- [NTSB FTW02LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA139.md): Boeing A75SN1 · Georgetown, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 4, 2002 · N5805V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate planning/decision resulting in the wake turbulence encounter during the takeoff/initial climb of the formation flight. A contributing factor was the partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
- [NTSB LAX02LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA221.md): Beech 58P · Santa Ana, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 3, 2002 · N4458S · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure to remain above the landing Boeing 757's glide path resulting in an encounter with wing tip vortices, a loss of directional control after touchdown, and collision with taxiway signs.
- [NTSB CHI02IA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02IA058.md): Boeing 737-522 · Chicago, IL · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Dec 28, 2001 · N941UA · No damage
  > The wake turbulence encounter.
- [NTSB SEA01LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA135.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Oak Harbor, WA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 19, 2001 · N4231T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate remedial action while on final approach. The encounter with wake turbulence was a factor.
- [NTSB NYC01LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA166.md): Cessna 402C · Boston, MA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2001 · N760EA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper decision to waive the wake turbulence hold time, and his subsequent loss of control when wake vortex turbulence was encountered.
- [NTSB NYC01IA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01IA024.md): Bombardier CL-600 · Falmouth, KY · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Oct 26, 2000 · N958CA · No damage
  > The wake turbulence of another heavy airplane.
- [NTSB NYC01LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA025.md): Cessna 172M · Camp Springs, MD · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 19, 2000 · N950ME · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper in-flight decision to operate close behind a large airplane at the same altitude, which resulted in a wake turbulence encounter.
- [NTSB SEA00LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA156.md): Cessna 152 · Hillsboro, OR · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2000 · N6434H · Substantial damage
  > An inadequately planned approach. The encounter of wake turbulence and not being able to maintain aircraft control were factors.
- [NTSB SEA00LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA067.md): Cessna 172P · Seattle, WA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2000 · N38GF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to attain proper alignment with the landing runway, and her failure to maintain proper glide path for the landing runway, resulting in an encounter with vortex turbulence from a preceding heavy aircraft landing on a parallel runway and…
- [NTSB ATL00FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00FA026.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Chamblee, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 15, 2000 · N8447Y · Substantial damage
  > The S76 helicopter pilot's failure to follow ATC landing sequence clearance, which resulted in the PA-28's encounter with the helicopters wake turbulence. A factor was the air traffic controllers clearance procedure.
- [NTSB LAX00LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA035.md): American General AG5B · Van Nuys, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 13, 1999 · N1195L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's encounter with unknown and unanticipated wake turbulence from a heavy transport aircraft, which was landing at another airport. A factor in the accident was the tower controller's failure to repeat a previously broadcast wake turbulence cautionary…
- [NTSB LAX99LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA291.md): Boeing 737-322 · Santa Barbara, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 1999 · N371UA · Minor damage
  > The flight's encounter with wake vortices from a preceding heavy aircraft.
- [NTSB LAX99LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA238.md): Cessna 150M · Honolulu, HI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 1999 · N63614 · Substantial damage
  > The airplane's encounter with turbulent air from the rotor wash of a large military helicopter, which resulted from the instructor's decision to continue the approach while the helicopter was on the runway.
- [NTSB MIA99LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA165.md): Schmidt Airshark II · Peachtree City, GA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 6, 1999 · N911FM · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the pilot to follow appropriate wake turbulence avoidance procedures, and wait an adequate amount of time prior to taking off behind a corporate jet.
- [NTSB NYC99LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA050.md): Douglas DC-9 · Plainfield, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 15, 1999 · N300ME · No damage
  > The wake turbulence from the proceeding Boeing 747.
- [NTSB NYC99LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA002.md): Foreit Super CAT · Middlebury, CT · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 3, 1998 · N132TF · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to utilize his seat belt and shoulder harness.
- [NTSB CHI98LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA351.md): Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 · Chicago, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 18, 1998 · N233RM · No damage
  > the wake turbulence encountered by Flight 146.
- [NTSB NYC98IA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98IA165.md): Boeing 737-300 · Mcconnellsburg, PA · Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Aug 7, 1998 · N515AU · Minor damage
  > A high altitude encounter with wake vortices.
- [NTSB LAX98FA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA210.md): Cessna 152 · Santa Ana, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 24, 1998 · N67421 · Destroyed
  > The failure of the pilot-in-command to identify a proper touchdown point on the runway and maintain an appropriate glidepath so as to remain clear of vortex turbulence from the preceding large aircraft. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to…
- [NTSB IAD98FA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98FA047.md): Beech 58 · Columbus, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 24, 1998 · N258B · Destroyed
  > The pilot's inadequate planned approach and his failure to follow wake turbulence avoidance procedures by not staying above the glide-path of the preceding Boeing 757, which resulted in a vortex turbulence encounter. Contributing to the accident was the wake…
- [NTSB ATL98LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA006.md): Diamond Aircraft Industries DA20-A1 · West Palm Beach, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 21, 1997 · N534SS · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's inadvertent use of the wrong runway, and his improper decision to continue the approach behind a large airplane (MD-80), which resulted in a wake turbulence encounter, loss of aircraft control, and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CHI98LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA003.md): Beech E18S · Lake Elmo, MN · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 2, 1997 · N916TM · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure identify the unsafe condition (vortex turbulence) which existed due to departing airplane and his subsequent inability to control the airplane once encountering the turbulence.
- [NTSB CHI97LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA235.md): Cessna A188A · Norfolk, NE · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 3, 1997 · N9902G · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, and failure or inability to control the airplane after encountering wake turbulence at low altitude during an aerial application maneuver. A related factor was the low altitude of the airplane when the wake…
- [NTSB NYC97LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA096.md): Cessna 172M · Galion, OH · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 18, 1997 · N4430R · Substantial damage
  > The inadvertent encounter with the helicopter main rotor downwash during the initial takeoff climb. Subsequently, the airplane descended and impacted the ground.
- [NTSB SEA96LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA173.md): Cessna 182G · Portland, OR · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 28, 1996 · N3135S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path above the MD-80's wake turbulence.
- [NTSB CHI96LA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA258.md): Air Tractor AT-301 · Liberal, KS · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 28, 1996 · N8837S · Destroyed
  > the pilot did not maintain aircraft control. A factor was a low altitude flight maneuver was performed.
- [NTSB ANC96FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96FA072.md): McDonnell Douglas MD-11-F · Anchorage, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report · May 16, 1996 · N614FE · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which allowed the airplane (MD-11) to encounter wake turbulence from a larger/heavy jet airplane (Boeing 747), while on a short final approach for landing on a close-by/parallel runway with a staggered…
- [NTSB LAX96LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA148.md): Cessna 172P · Fullerton, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 30, 1996 · N9964L · Substantial damage
  > the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding small aircraft, and his improper bounced landing recovery technique.
- [NTSB LAX95LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA346.md): Grumman G-164B · Avondale, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 1, 1995 · N6779K · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure to plan to avoid wake turbulence.
- [NTSB NYC95LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA175.md): Varga TRI-Q200 · Elyria, OH · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 25, 1995 · N888TQ · Destroyed
  > the pilot's decision to perform a staggered takeoff on the downwind side of the runway, which resulted in a wake turbulence encounter, loss of control in flight, and uncontrolled descent onto the runway. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in…
- [NTSB NYC95IA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95IA178.md): British Aerospace RJ-70 · New York, NY · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jul 25, 1995 · N833BE · No damage
  > the aileron interconnect became uncoupled, when an abrupt and/or large aileron movement was made in response to a wake turbulence encounter, while on a VOR approach with the autopilot engaged. A factor relating to the incident was: inadequate in-flight…
- [NTSB FTW95LA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA223.md): Cessna 120 · College Station, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 1, 1995 · N76856 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inability to maintain directional control after encountering wake turbulence from a landing airplane. A factor was the tailwind.
- [NTSB FTW95IA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95IA083.md): Boeing 737-3A4 · Houston, TX · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jan 1, 1995 · N326SW · No damage
  > Encounter with wake turbulence.
- [NTSB LAX94IA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94IA203.md): Fairchild SA-227 · Santa Monica, CA · Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Apr 23, 1994 · N27220 · Minor damage
  > FAA inadequate separation standards between large and heavy category aircraft.
- [NTSB LAX94FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94FA073.md): Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A · Santa Ana, CA · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 16, 1993 · N309CK · Destroyed
  > The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate separation behind the Boeing 757 and/or remain above its flight path during the approach, which resulted in an encounter with wake vortices from the 757. Factors related to the accident were: an inadequacy…

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md?occurrence=410&page=2

## 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 o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 410)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?occurrence=410

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