Traffic watch aircraft encounters severe turbulence. Obs complains of neck injury.

Attributes
ACN	247543
Time
Date	199307
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nuq airport : pao
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pao tower : rjty
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 177 flight time total : 3715 flight time type : 903
ASRS Report	247543
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Flying standard traffic watch pattern highway 280 west to 85 north to 101 northwest at 1500 ft MSL. In our turn to intercept 101 while making initial call-up to pao local for transition, we encountered severe turbulence/wind shear lasting approximately 15 seconds. Initially, my observer complained of neck injury. We landed immediately at pao. This turbulence/wind shear was in the vicinity of NASA's wind tunnel. No mention from moffett controllers of tunnel in operation at the time. It was noted by ATC pao that turbulence was encountered. Pulse load estimated at 5-6 G's.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TFC WATCH ACFT ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB. OBS COMPLAINS OF NECK INJURY.

Narrative: FLYING STANDARD TFC WATCH PATTERN HWY 280 W TO 85 N TO 101 NW AT 1500 FT MSL. IN OUR TURN TO INTERCEPT 101 WHILE MAKING INITIAL CALL-UP TO PAO LCL FOR TRANSITION, WE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB/WIND SHEAR LASTING APPROX 15 SECONDS. INITIALLY, MY OBSERVER COMPLAINED OF NECK INJURY. WE LANDED IMMEDIATELY AT PAO. THIS TURB/WIND SHEAR WAS IN THE VICINITY OF NASA'S WIND TUNNEL. NO MENTION FROM MOFFETT CTLRS OF TUNNEL IN OP AT THE TIME. IT WAS NOTED BY ATC PAO THAT TURB WAS ENCOUNTERED. PULSE LOAD ESTIMATED AT 5-6 G'S.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.