There is no single maximum wind limit as it depends on the direction of wind and phase of flight. A crosswind above about 40mph and tailwind above 10mph can start to cause problems and stop commercial jets taking off and landing.
There is no single maximum wind speed that cancels flights, as it depends on the direction of wind and phase of flight. A crosswind above about 40mph and a tailwind above 10mph can start to cause problems and stop commercial jets from taking off and landing.
With reasonable proficiency, most private pilots can handle surface winds of up to about 20 miles per hour. However, the direction makes a lot of difference, and flight instructors find that one of the most difficult lessons to teach is crosswind landings.
With this in mind, horizontal winds (also known as “crosswinds”) in excess of 30-35 kts (about 34-40 mph) are generally prohibitive of take-off and landing. As far as how this happens, it depends on where you are in flight.
Hiking & WindIn strong winds, your balance may become compromised, increasing the risk of slips and falls. At 30mph winds can start to affect your balance, in 40mph winds walking becomes difficult. If the wind speeds are up to 50mph, it's dangerous to continue for even experienced hikers.
Severe turbulence can cause a plane to drop so suddenly that pilots temporarily lose control. But, again, that's not enough to crash the plane. That's not to say it's never happened. In 1966, human error and turbulence combined to bring a plane down over Mount Fuji.