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Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport

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40°49′17″N 82°31′0″W / 40.82139°N 82.51667°W / 40.82139; -82.51667

Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport
MFD diagram
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Mansfield
ServesMansfield, Ohio
LocationMansfield, Ohio
Elevation AMSL1,297 ft / 395 m
Websitehttps://www.ci.mansfield.oh.us/index.php/lahm-airport
Map
MFD is located in Ohio
MFD
MFD
MFD is located in the United States
MFD
MFD
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14/32 9,001 2,744 Asphalt
5/23 6,819 2,078 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft operations (year ending January 31, 2023)18,780
Based aircraft75

Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport (IATA: MFD, ICAO: KMFD, FAA LID: MFD) is three miles (4.8 km) north of Mansfield, in Richland County, Ohio. By car the airport is an hour away from Cleveland and Columbus, near Interstate 71, US Route 30, and State Route 13.[2]

History

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The airport is named for Frank P. Lahm. Lahm was a balloonist who trained his son in the field where the airport is now located. His son won the first Gordon Bennett balloon race to Paris to England, eventually worked with the Wright Brothers, and was the first military passenger on an airplane.[3]

The first airline flights were TWA Douglas DC-3s in 1947; Lake Central replaced TWA in 1953, and successor Allegheny served Mansfield until 1969, when Allegheny Commuter took over.

The Mansfield Aviation Club was founded at the airport in 1949 and provides scholarships and celebrations.[4]

In 2021, the airport received an annual federal subsidy over several years from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[4]

In 2023, the city of Mansfield sued 81 companies and individuals over possible contamination at Mansfield airport. The issue is primarily centered around chemicals in foam being used by the Air National Guard's firefighters. The city claims that the military's products were defective and unreasonable dangerous. The suit is ongoing.[5]

Military presence

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The airport is home to the Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base and the 179th Airlift Wing (179 AW), an Ohio Air National Guard unit operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC). The unit has about 1000 personnel, of which about 300 are full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technician (ART) personnel and the remaining 760 are traditional part-time air national guardsmen.

The wing has been active at Mansfield Lahm since its establishment in 1948, operating various fighter aircraft until 1976, when it transitioned to an airlift mission with C-130 Hercules aircraft. The wing has performed service during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Retiring their C-130's in 2009, the 179th flew the C-27 Spartan until 2013, at which time it began transitioning back to the C-130.[6]

 
Control Tower at Mansfield
 
Terminal at MFD

Facilities and aircraft

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Facilities

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The airport covers 2,340 acres (950 ha) and has two asphalt runways: 14/32 is 9,001 by 150 feet (2,744 m × 46 m) and 5/23 is 6,819 by 150 feet (2,078 m × 46 m).[7] The airport adjoins several industrial parks.

  • Niss Aviation provides services as a fixed-base operator. It purchased Richland Aviation, the former FBO, in 2021.[4] The FBO offers services such as fuel, general maintenance, hangars, courtesy transportation, a crew lounge, snooze rooms, shower, a conference room, and more.[1][8]
  • Avit Flight Academy provides flight instruction at the airport.
  • Modern Avionics and Maintenance, Inc. and The Airplane Clinic provide maintenance and avionics work.

The airport can handle large aircraft, including the USAF C-5 and the Antonov 124-100.

In 2022, the airport received nearly $7 million in funding to rehabilitate its facilities. The overflow parking ramp and certain taxiways and taxilanes were upgraded.[9]

In 2023, the airport received funding that is intended to go towards building a restaurant at the airport. The airport plans to begin construction in spring 2024. The facility will include a dining room, bar, and outdoor patio, and the restaurant will be open to both pilots and the general public.[10]

Aircraft

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In the year ending January 31, 2023, the airport had 18,780 aircraft operations, average 51 per day: 85% general aviation, 7% air taxi, 8% military, and <1% airline. 75 aircraft were based at this airport at the time: 51 single-engine and 11 multi-engine airplanes, 8 military, 4 jets, and 1 ultralight.[1]

Events

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The airport hosts regular events, most notably an Airport Day that features helicopter and airplane rides, a kids zone, interactive games, food trucks, vendor booths, and a car show.[11][12] In 2023, the Airport Day featured a drone show, the first in the region.[3]

The airport also often hosts historic warbird aircraft displays.[13]

Incidents and accidents

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  • On January 2, 1989, a Mitsubishi MU-2B on approach to Mansfield crashed due to spatial disorientation while trying to change communications frequencies during an instrument approach into Mansfield.[14][15]
  • On November 30, 1996, an Aero Commander 681 collided with power lines and terrain while on an instrument approach at Mansfield Lahm Airport. After being cleared for the approach, the pilot advised the tower that he was on the wrong course, and requested vectors for another approach. After being a cleared for a second approach, the pilot was cleared to land, but he could not see the runway and requested a third approach. The pilot got the runway in sight on the third approach and was again cleared to land, but the air traffic controller noticed the airplane descending quickly and bobbing up and down on final. It suddenly flew up in the air and flipped into the ground. The probable causes of the accident were found to be the pilot's early descent below the minimum descent altitude while preparing to land from an instrument approach and his failure to maintain adequate altitude and clearance from obstructions.[16][17]
  • On November 11, 2001, a Piper PA-28 Cherokee on approach to Mansfield crashed short of the runway while trying to divert to Lahm Municipal airport in response to engine problems. The pilot proceeded directly to the airport but crashed before reaching the runway. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, and subsequent forced landing. Factors were the carburetor icing condition, night conditions, trees, and the pilot's impairment from ingestion of an over-the-counter antihistamine.[18][19]
  • On June 21, 2003, a Piper PA-32 Saratoga was substantially damaged during a landing at Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport. a witness reported the airplane flared too high and touched down on the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that the aircraft was pushed to the side of the runway by wind, touched down on grass next to the paved runway surface, and struck runway lights and signs before returning to the runway. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing.[20]
  • On July 1, 2004, a Zenith STOL CH 701, registered N98EH, failed to maintain directional control during a precautionary landing. The aircraft suffered a loss of oil pressure and partial loss of engine power, due to unapproved maintenance modification. One injury was reported.[21][22]
  • On April 14, 2016, CZAW SportCruiser impacted runway 32 during landing at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport. The nose landing gear separated at a weld, which resulted in the airplane nose impacting the runway. The pilot stated that after the main landing gear touched down, he began to ease back pressure on the control stick. As the back pressure eased, the nose wheel landing gear strut separated from the airplane. The airplane slid on the runway for about 150 feet and the nosewheel/strut remained about 30 feet behind the airplane and along the runway centerline. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to inspect the nose landing gear, which resulted in a crack going undetected and the subsequent separation of the gear at the weld area during landing.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport". AirNav.
  2. ^ "Airport (Lahm)". City of Mansfield.
  3. ^ a b "Mansfield Airport Day fanfare features dazzling drone show". Crawford County Now. July 31, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Davis, Emma; Member, Report for America Corps (January 24, 2022). "Open Source: Who uses Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport?". Ashland Source. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  5. ^ Caudill, Mark. "City of Mansfield sues 81 defendants in airport contamination case". Mansfield News Journal. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "179th Airlift Wing". United States Air National Guard.
  7. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for MFD PDF Effective August 10, 2023
  8. ^ "Niss Aviation FBO FBO Info & Fuel Prices at Mansfield Lahm Rgnl (KMFD)". FlightAware. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Hunnell, Carl (September 19, 2022). "Open Source: $6.9 million Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport improvement project to start in April". Richland Source. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  10. ^ McCormick, Grace (November 27, 2023). "Niss plans $1.5 million restaurant at Mansfield's Lahm airport". Richland Source. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mansfield News Journal Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts". Mansfield News Journal. Retrieved January 17, 2024.[failed verification]
  12. ^ "OH: Mansfield Airport Day Coming to Lahm Airport". Aviation Pros. July 5, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Historic aircraft at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport". NBC4. Columbus, Ohio: WCMH-TV. August 29, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mitsubishi MU-2B crash in Ohio (N500V)". PlaneCrashMap.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  15. ^ "Accident Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A N500V,". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "Aero Commander 681 crash in Ohio (N9129N)". PlaneCrashMap.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  17. ^ "Accident Aero Commander-Rockwell 681B Turbo Commander N9129N,". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  18. ^ "Piper PA-28-180 crash in Ohio (N3672R)". PlaneCrashMap.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "Accident Piper PA-28-180 N3672R,". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  20. ^ "Piper Saratoga II TC PA32- crash in Ohio (N9298D)". PlaneCrashMap.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Aircraft Incident/Accident Report Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport Mansfield, Ohio 44903 Thursday, July 1, 2004 2:30 PM EDT". Aircraft One. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  22. ^ "Henes Zenair CH 701 crash in Ohio (N98EH)". PlaneCrashMap.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Czech Sport Aircraft As Piper Sport crash in Ohio (N197PS)". PlaneCrashMap.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
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