It is the sixth-busiest airport in the United States without scheduled passenger service.[4] Charters carrying sports teams competing at the now-defunct Palace of Auburn Hills nearby frequently used the airport. The airport was originally called Pontiac Municipal Airport when it opened in 1928 and became Oakland-Pontiac Airport later before adopting its current name.
The city of Pontiac purchased 160 acres (65 ha) of land on September 12, 1928, and on November 27 of that year the airport opened. It received its dedication the following June and was named Pontiac Airport. The Oakland County government bought the airport on February 25, 1967. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners gave the airport its current name on March 7, 1996 after L. Brooks Patterson suggested renaming the airport.[5]
Lakeshore Express flights suspended operation in April 2014 as operator Pentastar Aviation elected to cease operating the flights.[6]
Facilities and aircraft
KPTK New Terminal Building
Located at 6500 Patterson Parkway, Waterford, MI 48327, Oakland County International Airport covers an area of 750 acres (300 ha) at an elevation of 981 feet (299 m) above mean sea level. It has three asphalt paved runways: 9R/27L is 6,521 by 150 feet (1,987 x 46 m); 9L/27R is 5,676 by 100 feet (1,730 x 30 m); 18/36 is 2,582 by 75 feet (788 x 23 m).[1]
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 142,535 aircraft operations, an average of 390 per day: 90% general aviation, 9% air taxi, <1% scheduled commercial, and <1% military. At that time, there were 658 aircraft based at this airport: 325 single-engine airplanes, 220 jets, 95 multi-engine airplanes, and 18 helicopters.[1][7]
"Hush House"
Added to the airport facility in 2004, as part of a noise abatement project, is a Ground Run-up Enclosure, or "Hush House." This 3-sided structure is used by aviation mechanics for testing turbine powered aircraft. The airplane is taxied inside the structure and turned so the exhaust and thrust is facing the rear wall. The mechanics can then run the engines at high power. A majority of the noise will be either absorbed by the walls or deflected upward, reducing the impact to the surrounding community.
The airport has seven FBOs that offer fuel, aircraft maintenance, catering, hangars, courtesy transportation, conference rooms, crew lounges, snooze rooms, showers, and more.[8]
On May 25, 1988, a Chappel Ratsrepus 30 crashed while operating at the airport. Destructive wing/aileron flutter is suspected, but the theory is not sufficiently substantiated through research and investigation to be considered the probable cause of this accident.[13]
On August 26, 1989, a Fiel BD-5 crashed after takeoff from Oakland County. The probable cause was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in a stall/spin. The accident was caused by an excessive pull-up maneuver and the pilot's lack of total experience in the aircraft.[14]
On August 26, 2001, a Hughes 269B was substantially damaged during a simulated autorotation at Oakland County. The engine failed during the power-recovery phase of autorotational descent, and a main rotor blade contacted the tailboom after touchdown. It was found the operator did not comply with associated checklists.[15]
On September 2, 2003, a Cessna 152 sustained substantial damage when its nose landing gear collapsed while landing at Oakland County. The probable cause was found to be the solo student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.[16]
On December 3, 2003, a Cessna 152 impacted terrain while executing a forced landing near Pontiac. The aircraft was on final for Oakland County Airport when it experienced a loss of engine power, the cause of which could not be determined.[17]
On September 18, 2004, an Abbott RAF 2000 sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Oakland County. The private pilot onboard had completed an engine run for 30-40 minutes before takeoff to verify operation after a recent engine cooling system modification. The pilot noted performance was not as expected on initial climbout, and the aircraft started to lose power, forcing the pilot to land off-airport despite an attempt to return to the airport. The probable cause was found to be partial power loss due to overheating of the cylinders due to the pilot's improper servicing of the modified engine cooling system, particularly doing so without maintenance instructions available for reference.[18]
On January 27, 2006, a Bellanca 7ECA impacted terrain while maneuvering for landing at Oakland County. The plane, which had been operating in the traffic pattern, was reported to be in a steep bank before descending and impacting the ground. The commercial pilot and flight instructor onboard received fatal injuries. The probable cause of the accident was found to be an excessive bank angle executed by the flight crew and their failure to maintain airspeed during the turn, leading to an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the ground. A contributing factor was low altitude.[19]
On September 29, 2006, a Beechcraft B19 Musketeer crashed at Oakland during a hard landing. The aircraft porpoised during landing, resulting in a nose landing gear collapse. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to perform a go-around when he realized the aircraft was not stabilized on final.[20]
On September 5, 2007, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Oakland County. The pilot reported the aircraft bounced, and they added power while applying back pressure to stabilize the aircraft, then retarded power to settle back to the runway. Post-landing inspections revealed damage to the firewall, cabin floor, and lower fuselage skin. The probable cause was found to be the pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare and improper recovery from the bounced landing.[21]
On March 17, 2013, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk was involved in an accident while taxiing at Oakland County Airport. The pilot onboard reported the aircraft's engine suddenly went to full power despite normal instrument readings. The pilot stopped the aircraft by closing the throttle, cutting off the fuel/air mixture, and applying brakes, but the aircraft still managed to exit the taxiway before stopping, impacting a snowbank and flipping over. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after an unexplained increase in engine power while taxiing.[22]
On June 6, 2013, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk crashed during takeoff at Oakland while practicing a soft field takeoff procedure. The aircraft yawed right during the takeoff roll, and the aircraft continued right after liftoff. As the student pilot onboard corrected, pitch attitude increased. The flight instructor onboard tried taking controls, but the student did not relieve them, and the aircraft stalled and crashed. The probable cause of the accident was meant to be the student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff and his interference with the flight instructor's attempt to provide remedial action.[23]
On August 23, 2015, a Luscombe 8 was substantially damaged during a landing attempt at Oakland. The pilot reported that the aircraft weathervaned into the 90-degree crosswind after touchdown which the pilot was unable to correct. The aircraft skidded off the runway, struck airport lights and signs, and came to rest on the nose, damaging the fuselage and the right wing. The probable cause was found to be the pilot's failure to main control of the aircraft while landing with a left quartering tailing. Contributing was the pilot's inability to conduct a go-around due to carburetor-ice induced loss of engine power.[24]
On December 23, 2016, an Aeronca 15AC Sedan was substantially damaged while landing at Oakland County. The sole pilot on board, who was uninjured, was practicing landings in the aircraft, which was tail-wheel equipped. After 15 landings, all of which were uneventful, the aircraft suddenly swerved left after touchdown on the final attempt. The pilot attempted to regain control, but the aircraft entered another swerve to the right and impacted a snowbank near the runway, at which point it nosed over.[25]
On April 9, 2017, a Piper PA-28 Cherokee crashed during a touch-and-go due to a landing gear collapse. The two on board were uninjured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged. The probable cause of the incident was found to be maintenance personnel's improper securing of an unused instrument lamp socket, resulting in an electrical short of the landing gear controls, preventing the gear from transitioning to the full down & locked position.[26]
