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 Delta DC-9 crashed in 1972 during a landing approach after encountering wake turbulence from a preceding DC-10, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants.
The crew, though cautioned about turbulence, lacked sufficient information to accurately assess the wake vortex hazard, and existing FAA VFR procedures at the time provided inadequate protection.
This fatal accident prompted the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to issue eight recommendations, directly leading to the current FAA and ATC wake turbulence guidelines.

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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.