Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 1; Flight Crew Total 270; Flight Crew Type 200
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Upon visual approach to PAE noticed a B787 climbing through our altitude approximately three miles in front of us and to our right with lateral separation at approximately 3;000 ft. The B787 was moving opposite to our direction (we were southbound and it was northbound). There was no collision risk. Approximately 90-120 seconds after the B787 passed our right wing; we felt a small bump; followed by a rapid and abrupt uncommanded roll to the left - about 40-45 degrees. The upset was easily recovered. The other pilot in the aircraft (a CFI) and I immediately identified the cause to be wake turbulence from the B787. We were surprised that the wake drifted as far as it did from the track of the aircraft; especially since winds aloft seemed to be moving south to north.
Cessna 172 pilot reported encountering wake turbulence from an opposite direction B787 in SEA airspace.