Narrative:

While doing a practice ILS approach, we were vectored close behind a B737. I was concerned, but the other aircraft was faster and we were 2 mi in trail, but below its flight path. Without warning, we rolled left violently. I elected to continue the roll all the way through. We lost about 400 ft. No damage to our plane, we broke off the approach. Tower asked if we were ok. We said 'stand by.' then after our aircraft seemed to fly ok, we came around and asked to continue the approach to a full stop. 2 mechanics inspected our aircraft and said it showed no signs of structural damage. We called the tower supervisor and discussed the incident. He said he would alert his controllers to spacing issues. We might have refused the vector, but the spacing seemed ok. However, even a B737 can make a big wake, and we were below his high approach path. The upset occurred with no warning and could not be stopped.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR TWIN ENG TRAINING FLC ENCOUNTER A FULL ROLL WAKE FROM PRECEDING B737 AFTER TURNING FINAL AT ABQ.

Narrative: WHILE DOING A PRACTICE ILS APCH, WE WERE VECTORED CLOSE BEHIND A B737. I WAS CONCERNED, BUT THE OTHER ACFT WAS FASTER AND WE WERE 2 MI IN TRAIL, BUT BELOW ITS FLT PATH. WITHOUT WARNING, WE ROLLED L VIOLENTLY. I ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE ROLL ALL THE WAY THROUGH. WE LOST ABOUT 400 FT. NO DAMAGE TO OUR PLANE, WE BROKE OFF THE APCH. TWR ASKED IF WE WERE OK. WE SAID 'STAND BY.' THEN AFTER OUR ACFT SEEMED TO FLY OK, WE CAME AROUND AND ASKED TO CONTINUE THE APCH TO A FULL STOP. 2 MECHS INSPECTED OUR ACFT AND SAID IT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. WE CALLED THE TWR SUPVR AND DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT. HE SAID HE WOULD ALERT HIS CTLRS TO SPACING ISSUES. WE MIGHT HAVE REFUSED THE VECTOR, BUT THE SPACING SEEMED OK. HOWEVER, EVEN A B737 CAN MAKE A BIG WAKE, AND WE WERE BELOW HIS HIGH APCH PATH. THE UPSET OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED.

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.