Pilot in IMC vectored into 757 wake turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	287848
Time
Date	199411
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3600 msl bound upper : 3600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	287848
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was hand flying flight XXXX fwa-ord and we were being vectored for ILS 14R. Cleared to 4000 ft and turned to intercept localizer. Shortly thereafter, cleared to 3000 ft and told we were cleared for approach. At 3600 ft we encountered wake turbulence which rolled the aircraft 45 degrees right bank prior to recovery and climbed out of the wake. Maintained 3800 ft until intercepting GS. Asked tower what we were following upon contact at roamy and were informed, for the first time, that it was a 757. I asked for an approach control number and spoke with the supervisor upon landing. Points: 1) never told we were behind a 757. 2) 4000 ft is normal intercept altitude at our distance. 3000 ft if approved by ATC, however some common sense would have told the controller, and us if we had known we were behind a 757, that 3000 ft may have put us right into his wake. 3) this is common at ord. Wake encounters should be unusual, not commonplace. Review the ATC procedures before someone gets killed!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT IN IMC VECTORED INTO 757 WAKE TURB.

Narrative: I WAS HAND FLYING FLT XXXX FWA-ORD AND WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR ILS 14R. CLRED TO 4000 FT AND TURNED TO INTERCEPT LOC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CLRED TO 3000 FT AND TOLD WE WERE CLRED FOR APCH. AT 3600 FT WE ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURB WHICH ROLLED THE ACFT 45 DEGS R BANK PRIOR TO RECOVERY AND CLBED OUT OF THE WAKE. MAINTAINED 3800 FT UNTIL INTERCEPTING GS. ASKED TWR WHAT WE WERE FOLLOWING UPON CONTACT AT ROAMY AND WERE INFORMED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT IT WAS A 757. I ASKED FOR AN APCH CTL NUMBER AND SPOKE WITH THE SUPVR UPON LNDG. POINTS: 1) NEVER TOLD WE WERE BEHIND A 757. 2) 4000 FT IS NORMAL INTERCEPT ALT AT OUR DISTANCE. 3000 FT IF APPROVED BY ATC, HOWEVER SOME COMMON SENSE WOULD HAVE TOLD THE CTLR, AND US IF WE HAD KNOWN WE WERE BEHIND A 757, THAT 3000 FT MAY HAVE PUT US RIGHT INTO HIS WAKE. 3) THIS IS COMMON AT ORD. WAKE ENCOUNTERS SHOULD BE UNUSUAL, NOT COMMONPLACE. REVIEW THE ATC PROCS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!

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.