The Watershed Crash

The following is quoted from the NTSB report of a wake turbulence accident. It was this accident that led to the existing wake turbulence guidelines now being used by the FAA and ATC.

Editorial Staff

Monday, July 06, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A 1972 Delta DC-9 crash, which killed all four occupants, was caused by an unexpected encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding DC-10 during its final approach.
The crew, though cautioned, lacked sufficient information to accurately assess the wake turbulence hazard, and existing FAA VFR procedures did not provide adequate protection.
This accident was instrumental in leading to the development and implementation of current FAA and ATC wake turbulence guidelines and recommendations.

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The following is quoted from the NTSB report of a wake turbulence accident. It was this accident that led to the existing wake turbulence guidelines now being used by the FAA and ATC.

A Delta Air Lines, Inc., DC-9-14 crashed while attempting a go-around following a landing approach to Runway 13 at Greater Southwest International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, at 0724 central daylight time, May 30, 1972. Three Delta Air Lines pilots and one Federal Aviation Administration air carrier operations inspector, the only occupants of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was demolished by fire and impact.