Three days before Christmas in 1994 a Westwind landed in La Verne, Calif., east of Los Angeles, to drop off the mother of brothers who ran In-and-Out Burgers, a popular fast-food chain in California. They had been on a family trip and had their hunting gear on board. The Westwind took off for John Wayne Airport, a short ride south from La Verne. It crashed on short final to Runway 19R, diving vertically into a parking lot near the airport. It exploded and shot off ammunition in all directions. It had encountered a Boeing 757 wake.
Multiple fatal aircraft crashes have been attributed to Boeing 757 wake turbulence, highlighting its significant danger to smaller aircraft.
These incidents typically occurred at low altitudes during critical phases of flight (takeoff or landing), where wake turbulence can linger and pose extreme hazards.
The author expresses permanent concern about jet wakes, particularly from the Boeing 757, due to its documented role in these severe accidents.
Three days before Christmas in 1994 a Westwind landed in La Verne, Calif., east of Los Angeles, to drop off the mother of brothers who ran In-and-Out Burgers, a popular fast-food chain in California. They had been on a family trip and had their hunting gear on board.
Photo by Patrick Moran
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