Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 85; Flight Crew Total 14000; Flight Crew Type 2000
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
While climbing out of SLC via the LEETZ 6 departure we encountered either wake turbulence from the aircraft ahead or severe environmental turbulence. The auto pilot disengaged and while hand flying the aircraft trying to keep the aircraft under control we missed the initial fix; PPIGG; by approximately 1.5 to 2 miles. SLC departure queried us and advised we were off the departure. They issued a heading to rejoin the departure and nothing more was said of the situation. There was no loss of separation from other aircraft. It was a VMC day so we were never in danger of terrain contact with all of that in full view.In hindsight; we should have advised ATC of the encounter with turbulence and let them know we had to deviate to get the aircraft under control. We were so preoccupied with dealing with the situation that we never advised ATC of our actions.
C525 Captain reported a track deviation during climb from SLC when they were distracted by turbulence or a wake vortex encounter.