Crockett, US πΊπΈ Closed Airport
US-10665
-
360 ft
US-TX
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 31.322399Β° N, -95.439101Β° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: 76XS
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Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
H1/ |
60 ft | 60 ft | CONC | Active |
The exact closure date is not officially documented. The identifier US-10665 is a non-standard code used by third-party aviation databases, and these types of private heliports often become listed as 'closed' when their registration lapses or they fall into disuse. It was likely decommissioned sometime in the late 20th or early 21st century.
The closure was almost certainly for operational or economic reasons. Small, private hospital heliports are often closed due to one or more of the following factors:
- **Obsolescence:** The landing area no longer met evolving FAA safety standards for approach/departure paths, surface requirements, or lighting.
- **Cost:** Upgrading the facility to modern standards may have been cost-prohibitive for the hospital.
- **Change in Procedure:** The hospital may have changed its emergency transport protocols, opting to use the nearby Houston County Airport (KDKR) for fixed-wing and helicopter transfers, or designating a different, safer landing zone on its property.
- **Lack of Use:** A decline in the frequency of helicopter transports may have made a dedicated, registered heliport unnecessary.
There is no indication it was closed due to a specific accident or for military conversion.
The site is now part of the Crockett Medical Center grounds, located at 1100 E Loop 304, Crockett, TX. Examination of the coordinates (31.322399, -95.439101) via satellite imagery shows the location is now a grassy area and parking lot space belonging to the hospital. There are no visible markings or infrastructure of a former helipad. The land is fully integrated into the current hospital campus. If the hospital receives a patient via helicopter today, it would likely use a pre-designated, unmarked landing zone on its grounds or direct the flight to the nearby Houston County Airport.
The heliport's significance was entirely functional and local. It served as a vital asset for the Houston County Hospital (now Crockett Medical Center), providing a designated landing spot for medical evacuation (medevac) and air ambulance helicopters. Its primary operation was the rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients from the scene of an accident to the hospital, or from the hospital to larger, more specialized trauma centers in cities like Houston, Dallas, or Tyler. The dual name 'King's Inn' likely refers to the motel located adjacent to the hospital, which served as a landmark for its location. It was never a public-use facility and handled only emergency medical service (EMS) flights.
There are no known plans or prospects to reopen the heliport under its former designation (US-10665). This identifier is defunct. If the Crockett Medical Center determined a need for a permanent, registered helipad in the future, it would be required to construct a new facility that complies with all current FAA regulations and safety standards. This new facility would be registered with the FAA and assigned a new, official identifier.
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