No fatalities

CESSNA 120 accident at Upland, CA, 3 Jan 2022

Upland, CA, United States

On January 3, 2022, a CESSNA 120 operated by NEXTGEN FLIGHT ACADEMY INC was involved in an aviation accident near Upland, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Attain/maintain not possiblePilotEffect on equipment

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Jan 2022 CESSNA 120 accident near Upland, CA?

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Jan 2022 CESSNA 120 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Jan 2022 involved a CESSNA 120, operated by NEXTGEN FLIGHT ACADEMY INC, at Upland, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter.