Brauns Airport

No single, officially documented reason for the closure is available. However, Brauns Airport was a small, private-use airfield. The closure is most likely attributable to common factors that affect such airfields, such as the owner's retirement or passing, the increasing cost and liability of operation, or a decision to repurpose the land for more profitable agricultural use. There is no evidence of a major accident or military conversion leading to the closure.

The site of the former Brauns Airport has reverted to private agricultural land. Satellite imagery of the coordinates (37.91, -87.1828) clearly shows the unmistakable outline of the former north-south runway. However, the turf is no longer maintained as an airstrip and is now used for farming, likely for growing hay or other crops. The adjacent farm buildings, including a house and sheds, remain on the property. The land is not publicly accessible.

Brauns Airport (formerly FAA identifier: 42IN) was a privately owned, private-use airfield. Its historical significance is local, serving as a base for general aviation activities for its owner, Robert Braun, and likely other local pilots with permission. It was not a commercial or military facility. When active, it featured a single turf runway, designated 18/36, with a length of approximately 2,600 feet. The airport primarily supported recreational flying and personal transportation in light, single-engine aircraft typical of general aviation. Its presence was noted in aviation directories and on aeronautical charts from at least the late 1970s through the early 1990s.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Brauns Airport. The property is privately owned and has been fully integrated into agricultural operations for over two decades. The process to re-certify and reopen a closed airport is complex and expensive, and there is no indication of any intent from the landowners or aviation community to pursue this. For all practical purposes, the airport is permanently closed.