Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 1850; Flight Crew Type 450
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
After takeoff I performed a climbing right turn (right traffic for 31) to turn on course (south) to my destination. My plane climbs in excess of 2;500 fpm. I was in the 'downwind' approximately abeam the numbers for 31 during the right turn to on course and climbing through 3;000 ft MSL. As I rolled out on my southern course I saw a B737 coming right at me about 3;000 ft away and maybe 500ft above. I checked my altimeter thinking I must have busted into the Class B airspace floor of 4;000 MSL. I had not. I was at 3;100 MSL. I disengaged the autopilot and took evasive action. I dived for 3;000 MSL. The jet didn't appear to take any action. About 1 sec after my action the 737 was flying directly over top me in the opposite direction. Moments later I got in his jet wash and nearly lost control. I ended up at 3;800 MSL because I had to go full power and pitch the nose up since the jet wash dropped my wing and nose to an unusual attitude. I typically stay 500 ft below the Class B floor as a buffer; therefore I didn't like being at 3;800 MSL. My NavWorx ADS-B TIS-B never showed the traffic or alerted to it. Since I was in a climbing turn and performing a checklist I didn't see the 737 approaching until I was rolling out on course. Two problems I see: 1) Why was the 737 at what appeared to be 3;500 MSL under the Class B? If the jet was in fact in the Class B; but on the floor of it at 4;000 MSL; I contest that it is not a safe buffer from the GA traffic that fly underneath the Class B. If they fly at 4;500 MSL and GA traffic at 3;500 MSL then you have your 1;000 ft buffer. TRACON altitude assignments need to be reviewed. 2) Why did my TIS-B fail to alert me? It has a built in test that I check on the ground prior to takeoff and all was passed. It has alerted me in the past on traffic that wasn't nearly as close.
Glasair III pilot reported a wake turbulence encounter departing LNC with a B737 inbound to another airport. Reporter expressed concern that his NavWorx TIS-B unit did not alert him to the traffic.