PA-28 instructor pilot reported encountering wake turbulence from the preceding C172 in the pattern ...

Attributes
ACN	1579183
Time
Date	201809
Place
Locale Reference	OCF.Airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 375 Flight Crew Type 100
Events
Anomaly	Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter

Narrative:

While conducting a VFR local cross country practice flight as acting flight instructor with my client/student; I believe our PA-28-181 experienced wake turbulence from a departing C172. [We were] closed traffic 36 ocala. Upon our second touch-and-go we were in the upwind at 400 ft AGL; following a C172 that had departed prior and was 600 ft AGL feet turning right on a southeast departure. At this time the wake turbulence was experienced. My student was passing through 400 ft prior to our left crosswind turn; the aircraft banked 30-40 very quickly to the right then rolled left uncontrolled again; this time 20-30 degrees with a raising pitch attitude (not sure actual pitch degree). My student panicked on the first uncontrolled roll; let go of controls; and I took [over] as the aircraft rolled left. He claims he did nothing to controls and as I viewed the first roll it seemed he was not banking at all. I believe wake turbulence was the cause and due to the calm winds it perhaps lingered in the upwind; as we were following 30-40 seconds behind him. I feel silly as I never thought a 172 could affect our flight control authority. Operating out of ZZZ I deal with a large amount of wake turbulence awareness with the high density of turbojet traffic in and out of ZZZ; but never suspected a light single could do this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA-28 Instructor Pilot reported encountering wake turbulence from the preceding C172 in the pattern at OCF.

Narrative: While conducting a VFR local cross country practice flight as acting flight instructor with my client/student; I believe our PA-28-181 experienced wake turbulence from a departing C172. [We were] closed traffic 36 Ocala. Upon our second touch-and-go we were in the upwind at 400 ft AGL; following a C172 that had departed prior and was 600 ft AGL feet turning right on a southeast departure. At this time the wake turbulence was experienced. My student was passing through 400 ft prior to our left crosswind turn; the aircraft banked 30-40 very quickly to the right then rolled left uncontrolled again; this time 20-30 degrees with a raising pitch attitude (not sure actual pitch degree). My student panicked on the first uncontrolled roll; let go of controls; and I took [over] as the aircraft rolled left. He claims he did nothing to controls and as I viewed the first roll it seemed he was not banking at all. I believe wake turbulence was the cause and due to the calm winds it perhaps lingered in the upwind; as we were following 30-40 seconds behind him. I feel silly as I never thought a 172 could affect our flight control authority. Operating out of ZZZ I deal with a large amount of wake turbulence awareness with the high density of turbojet traffic in and out of ZZZ; but never suspected a light single could do this.

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.

PA-28 instructor pilot reported encountering wake turbulence from the preceding C172 in the pattern at ocf.