E145 following a heavy jet encounters wake turbulence and performs go around.

Attributes
ACN	786359
Time
Date	200805
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : shnon
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	786359
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : wake turbulence
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

While on shnon two arrival into iad we were flying towards mikej (heading about 190 degrees) for runway 1L. We were at 6000 ft and at an assigned speed of 210 KTS. ATC informed us we will be following a heavy aircraft at 6000 ft. We felt the wake of the heavy aircraft in front of us; took evasive action; turned right to a heading of 210 degrees and informed ATC. Later ATC advised us we can turn back to heading 190 degrees as that heavy aircraft was now below us. We followed their instructions and landed without any further incidents. After landing we contacted the tower and they told us that there was always a separation of 7 miles between us and the heavy aircraft and it was a non issue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E145 FOLLOWING A HEAVY JET ENCOUNTERS WAKE TURBULENCE AND PERFORMS GAR.

Narrative: WHILE ON SHNON TWO ARRIVAL INTO IAD WE WERE FLYING TOWARDS MIKEJ (HEADING ABOUT 190 DEGS) FOR RWY 1L. WE WERE AT 6000 FT AND AT AN ASSIGNED SPEED OF 210 KTS. ATC INFORMED US WE WILL BE FOLLOWING A HEAVY ACFT AT 6000 FT. WE FELT THE WAKE OF THE HEAVY ACFT IN FRONT OF US; TOOK EVASIVE ACTION; TURNED RIGHT TO A HEADING OF 210 DEGS AND INFORMED ATC. LATER ATC ADVISED US WE CAN TURN BACK TO HEADING 190 DEGS AS THAT HEAVY ACFT WAS NOW BELOW US. WE FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AND LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENTS. AFTER LANDING WE CONTACTED THE TOWER AND THEY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS A SEPARATION OF 7 MILES BETWEEN US AND THE HEAVY AIRCRAFT AND IT WAS A NON ISSUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.