No fatalities

CESSNA 172S NO SERIES accident at Culpeper, VA, 22 Dec 2020

Culpeper, VA, United States

On December 22, 2020, a CESSNA 172S NO SERIES operated by WIFA (WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY) LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Culpeper, VA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s decision to land the airplane in crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 16 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land the airplane in crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Capability exceededPilotEffect on operation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 22 Dec 2020 CESSNA 172S NO SERIES accident near Culpeper, VA?

The pilot’s decision to land the airplane in crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity.

Were there any fatalities in the 22 Dec 2020 CESSNA 172S NO SERIES accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 22 Dec 2020 involved a CESSNA 172S NO SERIES, operated by WIFA (WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY) LLC, at Culpeper, VA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s decision to land the airplane in crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity.