Narrative:

I was on short final for runway 16R at vny. A corporate jet (I believe it was citation) had preceded me. Upon receiving my landing clearance while on downwind (including 'follow the citation you're number 2') 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 70 KIAS. I asked the tower for a wind check when I was about 4 miles out; and hear '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 encounters 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 wind above ground effect. I normally fly technically advance aircraft (taas). On final this night I (habitually) looked for the wonderful wing on the primary flight display (pfd). Of course; this night's airplane was steam gauge with no pfd (cheaper to rent -- I was just doing my night passenger currency flight); so no such vector was available to me. Still; my necessary slight crab should have made the wake encounter loom more likely in my thinking. It was a mild; easily-handled surprise (seats remained dry); but underscores the vicissitudes of this dance between nature and machine.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 encountered wake turbulence at 350 FT on final approach at VNY. The preceding aircraft was a small jet. Wind conditions were reported calm.

Narrative: I was on short final for Runway 16R at VNY. A corporate jet (I believe it was Citation) had preceded me. Upon receiving my landing clearance while on downwind (including 'follow the Citation you're number 2') 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 70 KIAS. I asked the Tower for a wind check when I was about 4 miles out; and hear '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 encounters 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 wind above ground effect. I normally fly Technically Advance Aircraft (TAAs). On final this night I (habitually) looked for the wonderful wing on the Primary Flight Display (PFD). Of course; this night's airplane was steam gauge with no PFD (cheaper to rent -- I was just doing my night passenger currency flight); so no such vector was available to me. Still; my necessary slight crab should have made the wake encounter loom more likely in my thinking. It was a mild; easily-handled surprise (seats remained dry); but underscores the vicissitudes of this dance between nature and machine.

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.