Katama Airpark (FAA LID: 1B2)[1] is a public airport in the Katama section of Edgartown, Massachusetts, in Dukes County on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The airport, owned by the Town of Edgartown, has three runways, averages 22 takeoffs and landings per day, and has one aircraft based on its field.[1]
Katama Airpark | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Edgartown Airfield, as it appeared in the 1920s | |||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Town of Edgartown | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Martha's Vineyard | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Edgartown, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 18 ft / 5 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°21′30.4220″N 70°31′28.09″W / 41.358450556°N 70.5244694°W | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Source: FAA Form 5010 for 1B2, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
Katama is one of three airports on the island. The main airport Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY) is the only one with commercial service and handles the majority of the island's general aviation traffic. The third airport is the smaller Trade Wind Airport, a grass airfield in Oak Bluffs.
History
editDuring World War II, Martha's Vineyard Airport functioned as an outer defense and a training facility for gunnery and pilots. In addition to the main airport, there is a small airfield at Katama near a gunnery practice area on the beach. Following World War II, this airport was purchased by Steven Gentle, who ran the Katama Airpark until the 1980s when it was purchased with state conservation funds (as this airfield has five endangered plant or animal species).
Facilities
editThe town of Edgartown manages the airport. During the season (roughly May 31 to Labor Day), biplane and glider rides are available, as well as flight instruction in four different aircraft.[2]
A restaurant is adjacent to the airfield, currently named "Katama Kitchen."[3]
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute has a small data monitoring building adjacent to the hangar. It monitors wave action, beach erosion, and offshore wave action.[4] It is not open to the public.
Accidents
editOn June 22, 2005, a Cessna Skyhawk stalled and crashed during a landing attempt, injuring the pilot and two passengers.[5] This crash was the subject of a lengthy trial which concluded in 2012 with Cessna awarding a settlement of $1.7 million (2012 USD) to the injured party.[6] The plaintiffs alleged that faulty cockpit seat rails had caused the pilot to unexpectedly slide backward and lose control of the plane while attempting to abort a landing.[6]
On August 3, 2015, a Piper Cherokee was damaged when it rotated forward onto its nose during a rough landing. No passengers were harmed during this incident.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b FAA Form 5010 for 1B2. Federal Aviation Administration. 2023.
- ^ "Flight Instruction".
- ^ "Diner".
- ^ "New Coastal Observatory is Born".
- ^ "Small Plane Crashes at Katama Airfield; Pilot and Two Passengers Sustain Injuries". The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
- ^ a b "Dramatic Plane Crash Trial Ends Abruptly With Settlements". The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
- ^ "No Injuries After Rough Landing at Katama Airpark". The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
External links
edit- Katama Airfield web site
- Resources for this airport:
- FAA airport information for 1B2
- AirNav airport information for 1B2
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for 1B2
- AOPA airport information for 1B2
- Right Fork Diner web site