Tacopaco Airport

The de facto closure is not due to a single administrative decision but rather a combination of factors. The primary reason is its location within Mexico's 'Golden Triangle,' an area known for illicit drug cultivation and trafficking. Remote airstrips like Tacopaco are frequently used for narco-trafficking. Consequently, it was likely either:
1. Forcibly disabled by the Mexican Army (SEDENA) during operations to destroy clandestine runways.
2. Abandoned by any legitimate users (e.g., local ranchers, miners) due to the high risk of military intervention and association with illegal activities.
There is no evidence of closure due to a major accident or conversion to a formal military base.

As of the latest available satellite imagery, the site consists of a visible but unmaintained dirt runway. The airstrip appears abandoned and is not suitable for safe aviation. There are no buildings, hangars, or infrastructure remaining. The land has not been repurposed for agriculture or other developments and remains an isolated, deserted airstrip in the mountains. It is likely monitored by military authorities to prevent its reuse for illicit purposes.

Tacopaco Airport (or more accurately, Tacopaco Airstrip) served as a vital link for the remote, mountainous community of Tacopaco in the Choix municipality. Its operations would have consisted of general aviation, primarily small, single-engine, STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft like Cessna 206s or similar models. These planes transported people, medical supplies, and essential goods to an area with difficult and limited ground transportation. Historically and unofficially, its strategic location also made it a significant logistical asset for drug cartels operating in the Sierra Madre Occidental, used for transporting personnel, drugs, and weapons.

There are no known or published plans to reopen, repair, or certify Tacopaco Airport for official use. Given the persistent security challenges in the region and the lack of a significant, legitimate economic driver to justify the investment and risk, the prospects for its reopening are effectively zero. Any future use would likely be clandestine and subject to immediate military intervention.