Columbia City, US 🇺🇸 Closed Airport
ICAO
US-11455
IATA
-
Elevation
910 ft
Region
US-IN
Local Time
Loading...
Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 41.1856° N, -85.521599° E
Continent: North America
Type: Closed Airport
Help fellow travelers by sharing your experience at Plew Airport. Tips are reviewed before publishing.
See what travelers are saying about Plew Airport from online reviews
AI-generated summary based on publicly available traveler reviews
Researching traveler experiences online...
No community tips yet for Plew Airport.
Be the first to share a helpful tip for fellow travelers!
Loading weather data...
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
17/35 |
2100 ft | 100 ft | TURF | Active Lighted |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
The airport was closed sometime between 1998 and 2005. A 1998 USGS aerial photo shows the turf runway was still intact and clear. However, a 2005 aerial photo shows that a large industrial building had been constructed over the southern portion of the former runway, indicating the airport was permanently closed by that time.
The closure was due to economic reasons, specifically the sale and redevelopment of the land for industrial use. The site was prime real estate for commercial expansion from the nearby city. There is no evidence of military conversion, a major accident, or regulatory action forcing the closure. It was a common fate for small, privately-owned airfields to be sold for more profitable land development.
The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped. It is now occupied by a large industrial facility for 80/20 Inc., a company that manufactures modular T-slot aluminum framing systems. The original runway, hangars, and any other aviation infrastructure have been entirely removed and replaced with large buildings, parking lots, and access roads. There are no visible remnants of the former airfield.
Plew Airport was a small, privately-owned general aviation airfield. Its primary significance was local, serving its owner, Robert Plew, and potentially other local pilots. It was not a public-use airport and did not handle commercial or military operations. According to a 1982 airport directory, it featured a single 2,200-foot unpaved turf runway (Runway 18/36). The airport was a typical example of the numerous private airstrips that supported personal aviation across the United States in the mid-to-late 20th century.
There are no plans or prospects for reopening Plew Airport. The land has been permanently and extensively redeveloped for industrial purposes, making a return to aviation use impossible at this location.