B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Confusion; Distraction; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Aircraft
[I was] flying a stadium visual to Runway 29 at night after a 4 1/2 flight. The weather was VFR and reported winds were 180/12. The entire approach was uneventful and routine. We heard a heavy cleared into position on Runway 22L at W to hold at idle power for landing traffic (us). Runway 29 is much shorter than our normal landing runways; so I had 40 flaps and max braking selected for the landing. I intended to touch down within the first 1;000 FT. That put us directly behind the heavy aircraft as we flared. We experienced a strong gust from our left in the flare that we can only guess was from the engines of the heavy in position nearby. The timing of this unexpected crosswind gust was very bad. We were low and slow and power back. A very strong gust rolled us right; I corrected and felt lucky that our wings were nearly level when we touched down. I had very little time or altitude or power to react. I have had my hands this full when landing a plane only once or twice in 40 years; but I also had more warning.
A heavy jet was parked on EWR Runway 22L at Taxiway W when a B737 pass through its idle engine thrust which caused a temporary control loss; but the pilot was able right the aircraft before touchdown.