Plane Crashes Shortly After Takeoff From Winchester Airport

Leesburg VA

24 February, 2021

8:31 PM

Description

WINCHESTER, VA — An airplane crashed Wednesday afternoon shortly after taking off from Winchester Regional Airport, according to the Virginia State Police. The pilot, Jonathan D. Behnke, 42, of Mount Airy, Maryland, suffered minor injuries in the crash and was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment, the police said. The crash of the single-engine Cessna aircraft occurred at around 2:20 p.m. near the intersection of Back Mountain Road and Fishel Road in Frederick County, about 10 miles west of Winchester. The preliminary investigation revealed that the airplane suffered engine failure shortly after taking off. Behnke attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. When the airplane made impact with the ground, it flipped over. No one on the ground was injured in the crash. The pilot suffered minor injuries in the crash and was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment. (Courtesy of Virginia State Police) The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the crash, which remains under investigation, according to the state police.