Los Ibarra Airport

Economic abandonment is the most probable cause. Los Ibarra was a small, rudimentary airstrip in a very remote and sparsely populated area. Such airfields are typically built for private use (e.g., by a ranch owner) or for specific local industries. It likely ceased operations due to a lack of financial viability, a change in ownership, or the original purpose for its existence (such as supporting a specific ranch or business) becoming obsolete. There is no evidence to suggest it was closed due to a specific accident or for military conversion.

The airport is completely abandoned and defunct. Recent satellite imagery confirms the site's location, showing a clearly visible but derelict dirt runway. The runway is unmaintained, heavily eroded, and overgrown with Chihuahuan Desert scrub and vegetation. There are no visible buildings, hangars, aircraft, or any signs of current human activity on the site. The land has effectively reverted to its natural state.

The airport's primary role was that of a private, general aviation airstrip. The name 'Los Ibarra' suggests it may have been owned by or named after a local family or ranch. It would have accommodated small, single-engine aircraft used for personal transport, agricultural purposes (crop dusting), or providing logistical support to the remote community of Coyame del Sotol. The airport holds a degree of local curiosity due to its proximity to the site of the famous 'Coyame UFO Incident' of August 1974, an alleged mid-air collision between a UFO and a small civilian aircraft. While it is plausible that an aircraft involved in local aviation at that time might have used this airstrip, there is no documented or confirmed link between Los Ibarra Airport and the specific events of the incident.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Los Ibarra Airport. The lack of economic drivers, the remote location, the small local population, and the significant cost required to refurbish the runway make its revival highly unlikely. The transportation needs of the area are met by ground routes, and there is no apparent demand for local air services that would justify the investment.