Lake County Executive Airport (IATA: LNN^[2], ICAO: KLNN, FAA LID: LNN), formerly Lost Nation Airport, is a public use airport in Lake County, Ohio, United States.^[1] Located approximately 3 miles (5 km) north-northeast of the central business district of the City of Willoughby,^[1]^[3]^[4] it was owned and operated by that city until October 8, 2014, when it was transferred to Lake County and the Lake County Port and Economic Development Authority.^[5] The airport's name was changed from Lost Nation Airport to Lake County Executive Airport, alternately "Lake County Executive Airport at Lost Nation Field," in March 2020.^[6]^[7]^[8]

This airport was included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation reliever airport^[9] for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.^[3]

Facilities and aircraft

Lake County Executive Airport covers an area of 400 acres (162 ha) at an elevation of 626 feet (191 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways with asphalt surfaces: 5/23 is 5,028 by 100 feet (1,533 x 30 m) and 10/28 is 4,272 by 100 feet (1,302 x 30 m).^[1]^[10]

For the 12-month period ending July 21, 2020, the airport had 45,085 aircraft operations, an average of 123 per day: 97% general aviation, 3% air taxi, and <1% military. At that time there were 90 aircraft based at this airport, up from 73 in 2011: 67 single-engine and 12 multi-engine airplanes, 9 jets, and 2 helicopters.^[1]^[10]

The airport has a fixed-base operator that sells fuel, both avgas and Jet A, and offers amenities such as general maintenance, avionics services, catering, courtesy transportation, a conference room, a crew lounge, showers, and more.^[11]

In 2022, the aircraft got funding to remove a power pole obstruction in the runway protection zone as well as to redesign its main runway and taxiway.^[12]

Accidents and incidents

On November 27, 2002, a Cessna TR182 was substantially damaged when it landed with the landing gear partially extended at the Lake County Executive Airport. Soon after departure, Air Traffic Control stopped receiving a signal from the aircraft's transponder, and the plane requested a return to the airport. The cockpit lights then started to flash, and the pilot reported an electrical problem to ATC. At some point, the radios began to malfunction, and the airplane lost all electrical power. While maneuvering to land, the pilot selected the landing gear to the down position, and the flaps to 10 degrees. The pilot thought the gear had locked, but with no electrical power to illuminate the safe gear indicators, he was not sure. Prior to touchdown, he selected full flaps. The airplane touched down with the landing gear partially extended, started to slide, and overran the runway before coming to a stop. The probable cause of the incident was found to be the pilot's failure to select the alternator to the "ON" position before initiating the flight.^[13]
On April 21, 2004, a Piper PA-34 Seneca was substantially damaged while landing at the Lake County Executive Airport. The airplane encountered moderate rain and gusty winds as it descended on final approach. The pilot further stated that, as the airplane approached the runway, she did not add enough engine power in an adequate time frame to prevent a hard landing. The airplane bounced and came to rest on the runway. Subsequent inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the wing spar, fuselage, both engines, and both propellers. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions associated with thunderstorm activity.^[14]
On May 15, 2004, a Cessna 310 was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Lake County Executive Airport. The airplane was operated by an aerial surveying company. The pilot intended to fly to Dayton to pick up a passenger, who was to operate surveying equipment installed on the airplane. Radar shows that, during the last minute of the plane's flight, it climbed, began a turn, and slowed by 20 knots before radar contact was lost. Several witnesses reported hearing the sound of a "low, loud" airplane, followed by an explosion. One witness observed the airplane about tree top level as it descended toward the ground. He noticed a bluish- green/red light illuminated on the airplane and stated that he did not observe any smoke or fire coming from the airplane. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff.^[15]
On February 21, 2016, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk crashed while simulating an engine failure on takeoff during an instructional flight. The student pilot performed a short field takeoff, and after rotation and the retraction of the flaps at about 200 feet above ground level, the throttle was retarded to idle to simulate an engine failure. The instructor told the student to lower the nose multiple times to maintain airspeed before inputting forward pressure himself. The aircraft's sink rate was high and the instructor moved the airplane to a flare for landing. The instructor applied full throttle just before the plane touched down hard in a tail low attitude, and the nose wheel subsequently struck the runway. The aircraft taxied in without further incident, and damage to the firewall was later discovered. The probable cause of the incident was found to be the student pilot's failure to reduce pitch attitude during a simulated engine failure during takeoff initial climb, resulting in a high descent rate and hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
On August 24, 2020, a Cessna 152 crashed while operating at the Lake County Executive Airport.^[16]

Facilities and aircraft

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

External links