B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 215
Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
Close in behind [B737] and encountered a fairly good wake. Powered out and then was high on path and oversped flaps by two knots. Did S-turn and selected [flaps] 40 just under 1;000 FT AGL.  Stable at 500 FT but still should have just gone around!
I was the pilot not flying on an arrival to [Runway] 4R into MDW. We were cleared the visual approach behind another aircraft. We were about four miles in trail when the aircraft ahead slowed rather quickly and we closed into about 2.5 to 3 miles behind him. The Captain tried to slow our aircraft as quickly as he could by disconnecting the autopilot and pitching up a bit and calling for more flaps. I deployed the flaps to 30 when we were below the flap maneuvering speed. I called out to watch the airspeed; however; the Captain oversped the flaps 30 speed by about two to three knots for about two seconds. He slowed the aircraft to below flaps 40 speed and called for them at that time which was slightly below 1;000 FT AGL. He was completely stabilized before reaching 500 FT AGL and landed in the touchdown zone on speed.Situational awareness is key here; to anticipate the aircraft in front of you slowing at a specific time and being prepared and configured to do the same.
B737-700 Captain reported encountering wake turbulence on arrival to MDW in trail of a B737 that resulted in a minor flap overspeed and an unstablized approach.