A C182 pilot reports a wake vortex encounter at 350 ft following a citation into vny runway 16R.

Narrative:

I was about final for runway 16R at vny. A corporate jet (I believe it was a citation) had preceded me. Upon receiving my landing clearance while on downwind (including 'follow the citation for whatever; you're number two);' I remember having received the obligatory 'caution wake turbulence' from the tower. I waited until the jet was well past my '45' before turning base. I did so approximately at the va hospital; which is a frequent location referenced during pattern or approach work at vny. I was at a deliberately slow 70KIAS. I asked the tower for a wind check when I was about 4 miles out; and heard; 'wind calm.' I did notice that I needed a very slight left crab on final. At about 1.5 miles out; I experienced a left-wing-lifting; rolling encounter I assumed was from the previous aircraft's wake turbulence. It was a very distinct yet rather gentle roll from level wings to approximately 40 degrees left wing high. I recovered quickly and experienced no subsequent unusual wind encounter prior to touchdown. Pilots hearing 'wind calm' on the runway should keep in mind that ground friction and other local obstructions may change the wind's characteristics immediately above the runway; and that 'wind calm' does not guarantee calm winds above ground effect.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 pilot reports a wake vortex encounter at 350 ft following a Citation into VNY Runway 16R.

Narrative: I was about final for Runway 16R at VNY. A corporate jet (I believe it was a Citation) had preceded me. Upon receiving my landing clearance while on downwind (including 'follow the Citation for whatever; you're number two);' I remember having received the obligatory 'caution wake turbulence' from the tower. I waited until the jet was well past my '45' before turning base. I did so approximately at the VA hospital; which is a frequent location referenced during pattern or approach work at VNY. I was at a deliberately slow 70KIAS. I asked the tower for a wind check when I was about 4 miles out; and heard; 'wind calm.' I did notice that I needed a very slight left crab on final. At about 1.5 miles out; I experienced a left-wing-lifting; rolling encounter I assumed was from the previous aircraft's wake turbulence. It was a very distinct yet rather gentle roll from level wings to approximately 40 degrees left wing high. I recovered quickly and experienced no subsequent unusual wind encounter prior to touchdown. Pilots hearing 'wind calm' on the runway should keep in mind that ground friction and other local obstructions may change the wind's characteristics immediately above the runway; and that 'wind calm' does not guarantee calm winds above ground effect.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	824609
Time
Date	200902
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	VNY.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach Other Traffic Pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8 Flight Crew Total 724 Flight Crew Type 400
Events
Anomaly	Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter