Narrative:

I was making a standard rate turn to 040 heading to capture the [runway] 1C ILS. Every part of the flight was stable until the autopilot picked up the localizer. As the plane made the turn to 010; I had a green needle and the localizer was centering. At that time the plane hit severe turbulence; the autopilot kicked off; and the plane turned and pitched up. Within a few seconds; I had the plane stabilized. I turned back on course; and as I did; I got a TA to climb. I think the plane behind me had closed in (within five miles); which set the TA. ATC gave me a 270 heading and I broke off the approach; circled around; and made the second approach without any incident. I am not sure what caused the problem. It may have been wake turbulence: there was a warning about a B757 in front of me. The wind was 280 at 14-28 on the ground; it was 290 at 34-38 at 5;000 MSL. I do feel the controller had us too close: he wanted me to hurry my turn to final. After looking at the flight path on flight aware; I did not get far off course. This happened in a matter of seconds; and as I turned back on the localizer; the TA came. At that time I felt the controller made the correct decision to pull me off the approach. It was an IMC day and we were stacked up. When I got the plane stable; it was heading to the east; and I had gained 100 ft or so. I did react to the TA and climbed to 5;600 ft. I feel that if there had been more separation; I could have continued the approach without any problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C525A in single-pilot operations encountered what was likely wake turbulence on approach to IAD behind a B757.

Narrative: I was making a standard rate turn to 040 heading to capture the [Runway] 1C ILS. Every part of the flight was stable until the autopilot picked up the localizer. As the plane made the turn to 010; I had a green needle and the localizer was centering. At that time the plane hit severe turbulence; the autopilot kicked off; and the plane turned and pitched up. Within a few seconds; I had the plane stabilized. I turned back on course; and as I did; I got a TA to climb. I think the plane behind me had closed in (within five miles); which set the TA. ATC gave me a 270 heading and I broke off the approach; circled around; and made the second approach without any incident. I am not sure what caused the problem. It may have been wake turbulence: there was a warning about a B757 in front of me. The wind was 280 at 14-28 on the ground; it was 290 at 34-38 at 5;000 MSL. I do feel the Controller had us too close: he wanted me to hurry my turn to final. After looking at the flight path on flight aware; I did not get far off course. This happened in a matter of seconds; and as I turned back on the localizer; the TA came. At that time I felt the Controller made the correct decision to pull me off the approach. It was an IMC day and we were stacked up. When I got the plane stable; it was heading to the east; and I had gained 100 FT or so. I did react to the TA and climbed to 5;600 FT. I feel that if there had been more separation; I could have continued the approach without any problem.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.