Narrative:

After debriefing with the non flying pilot regarding a wake turbulence event followed by a go around; I realized that I should submit a NASA ASRS form so that others might benefit from our experience. While being vectored by approach control for the final approach to runway 30R; the crew encountered two events of wake turbulence. After the first apparent encounter with wake turbulence; the crew inquired what kind of aircraft was ahead. The approach controller informed the crew that they were following a B737 that was six miles ahead being vectored for the same runway. It was unsure of what the descent path was for the B737 as they prepared for the visual approach ahead of us; but did encounter wake turbulence for the second time as a result of being too close under the weather conditions. The approach controller did not give a wake turbulence warning nor was the crew aware of the B737 descent profile. The weather conditions were VFR and the winds were 5kts. The crew elected to go around after the second encounter with the wake turbulence. I told the non flying pilot to report to ATC that we were going around. The non flying pilot later informed me that he tuned in the wrong tower frequency to report the go around. After a delay of communication with the tower; we were given vectors for a close traffic pattern to be sequenced back for another visual approach. A greater spacing between the B737 ahead under the weather conditions could have prevented the wake turbulence. The crew is more aware of the potential of wing tip vortex characteristic conditions in busy terminal areas. The crew also is ensuring that the proper ATC frequencies are complied with for timely communication.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Gulfstream III Corporate Pilot reports several wake vortex encounters in trail of a B737 on approach to STL that led to a go-around decision.

Narrative: After debriefing with the non flying pilot regarding a wake turbulence event followed by a go around; I realized that I should submit a NASA ASRS form so that others might benefit from our experience. While being vectored by Approach Control for the final approach to Runway 30R; the crew encountered two events of wake turbulence. After the first apparent encounter with wake turbulence; the crew inquired what kind of aircraft was ahead. The Approach Controller informed the crew that they were following a B737 that was six miles ahead being vectored for the same runway. It was unsure of what the descent path was for the B737 as they prepared for the visual approach ahead of us; but did encounter wake turbulence for the second time as a result of being too close under the weather conditions. The Approach Controller did not give a wake turbulence warning nor was the crew aware of the B737 descent profile. The weather conditions were VFR and the winds were 5kts. The crew elected to go around after the second encounter with the wake turbulence. I told the non flying pilot to report to ATC that we were going around. The non flying pilot later informed me that he tuned in the wrong tower frequency to report the go around. After a delay of communication with the Tower; we were given vectors for a close traffic pattern to be sequenced back for another visual approach. A greater spacing between the B737 ahead under the weather conditions could have prevented the wake turbulence. The crew is more aware of the potential of wing tip vortex characteristic conditions in busy terminal areas. The crew also is ensuring that the proper ATC frequencies are complied with for timely communication.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.