San Patricio la Mesa Airstrip

While no single official reason is publicly available, the closure is almost certainly due to a combination of factors typical for small, private airstrips in remote regions:

1. **Economic Obsolescence:** The primary reason was likely the decline or cessation of the specific economic activity it was built to support, such as a particular mining operation, a large ranch, or an agricultural enterprise that no longer required air access.
2. **Improved Ground Transportation:** The development and improvement of local and regional roads over time would have reduced the necessity for air travel for personnel and light cargo, making the airstrip redundant.
3. **High Maintenance Costs:** The cost of maintaining a runway, even an unpaved one, can be significant. Without a strong economic driver, the private owner(s) likely ceased upkeep, leading to its gradual decay.
4. **Security Concerns:** Mexican authorities have been known to disable or closely monitor remote, unsupervised airstrips to prevent their use for illicit activities by drug cartels. While not confirmed for this specific strip, it is a plausible contributing factor for its permanent abandonment.

As of the latest available satellite imagery, the site is abandoned and in a state of disrepair. The outline of the dirt/gravel runway is still clearly visible from the air, but it is unmaintained, overgrown with vegetation, and eroded. There are no permanent buildings, hangars, or aviation facilities remaining on the site. It is completely non-operational for any official aviation purposes. While it is possible that it could be used for emergency or unauthorized landings by STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, it is considered a closed and unsafe airfield.

San Patricio la Mesa Airstrip was never a commercial airport and held no major national significance. Its importance was entirely local. It served as a private, general aviation facility.

- **Operations:** It would have handled light, single-engine or twin-engine propeller aircraft, such as Cessnas, Pipers, or similar models.
- **Purpose:** The airstrip was vital for connecting this remote, rugged area of Sonora with larger towns and cities. Its primary function was likely logistical support for the region's key industries: mining and large-scale cattle ranching. It would have been used to transport personnel, deliver urgent supplies and spare parts, and potentially for emergency medical evacuations. The name 'la Mesa' (the tableland) accurately describes its location on a flat-topped hill, providing a naturally suitable, elevated, and well-drained location for a runway.

There are no known or published plans, discussions, or prospects for reopening the San Patricio la Mesa Airstrip. Given the likely economic reasons for its original closure, the lack of any new major industrial or commercial development in the immediate vicinity, and the availability of improved road networks, there is no apparent demand that would justify the significant investment required to restore and certify the airstrip for operation. Its reopening is considered highly improbable.