http://www.aopa.org/asf/epilot_acc/chi06fa154.html

This article indicated that flying close to VNE contributed to the breakup of the Saratoga in wake turbulence. How much difference might it have made if the aircraft was below maneuvering speed? Rick?

Wonder how fast the wake turbulence winds were at the point of breakup. I'd have to say that had the Saratoga been at or below Va, the 55kts (or whatever it was) between Vne might have given it the chance to not be torn apart. Say the wind speed was around 60-70kts (I have no idea if I'm even close) + Va puts the airspeed at or just above Vne(if the wind hit the nose).

But then again did the AC get flipped over? Then you are playing a different game with negative G loading.

I'm not a scientist so this is just a guess.

Either way the pilot stacked the deck against himself by pushing the limits.

What I also noticed is that the pilot was going to have to scrub off all that airspeed with a piston engine. Piston engines don't like to be chopped. I can almost hear the cylinders creaking in protest.