Las Pedradas Airport

The official reason is undocumented, as MX-1481 was a private airstrip, not a public airport. The most probable reason for its closure is abandonment by its private owner(s). Small, remote airstrips like this often fall into disuse due to economic factors, the sale of the property, or the owner no longer operating aircraft. Given its location in a region known for smuggling operations, another possibility is that it was abandoned to avoid association with illicit activities or was discreetly disabled by Mexican authorities (SEDENA), who frequently destroy such 'pistas clandestinas' (clandestine airstrips) in Sonora.

The site is abandoned and defunct. Current satellite imagery shows the clear outline of a single dirt runway, but it is unmaintained, overgrown with desert scrub, and crossed by vehicle tracks. It is completely unsuitable for aviation. The land has reverted to its natural desert state, with the runway remaining as a visible scar on the landscape. There are no buildings or infrastructure visible at the site.

The airport held no major commercial or military significance. It was a private, unpaved dirt airstrip. Its name, 'Las Pedradas' ('The Stony Place'), likely refers to the local geography or a nearby ranch. Its primary function would have been to support private operations, such as transportation for a ranch owner, agricultural activities (crop dusting), or logistical support for mining or other business in a remote area. Operations would have been limited to small, single-engine general aviation aircraft capable of landing on short, unimproved surfaces.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Las Pedradas Airport. Given its remote location, lack of supporting infrastructure, and the absence of any apparent economic driver, its reactivation is highly unlikely. Furthermore, any attempt to reopen an airstrip in this sensitive border region would face significant scrutiny from Mexican and U.S. authorities due to security concerns.