On October 26, 2000, a Bombardier CL-600 (registration N958CA) was involved in an aviation accident near Falmouth, KY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The wake turbulence of another heavy airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Boeing 767 experienced an uncommanded left roll while in level flight with the autopilot engaged. The captain manually regained control after radar data showed a nearby aircraft at a similar altitude.
What happened
The aircraft was maintaining level flight with the autopilot system actively engaged when it unexpectedly initiated a roll to the left. The maneuver began with a hesitation before the airplane rapidly continued the rotation. At the time of the event, radar data confirmed the flight was cruising at an altitude of 10,850 feet.
Upon detecting the unusual attitude, the captain immediately disconnected the autopilot and manually controlled the aircraft to return it to level flight. The incident occurred approximately one minute and 24 seconds after a Boeing 767-300 had passed through the same airspace at an altitude of 11,000 feet.
The investigation
Radar data was reviewed to establish the timeline and altitude of the event. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the uncommanded roll and the subsequent recovery by the flight crew.