Griffing Sandusky Airport(IATA: SKY, ICAO: KSKY, FAALID: SKY) was a public airport in Erie County, Ohio, next to Sandusky Bay three miles southeast of Sandusky.[1] The airport permanently closed on December 31, 2013 and the FAA A/FD and VFR sectional charts no longer show the airport as open or operational.[2] Instrument approach procedures are no longer available from the FAA's website. All hangars and the entrance were demolished in April, 2016. The Sandusky Register confirmed that the city announced that a sports park called the Cedar Point Sports Center will replace the airport; it opened in spring 2017.[3]
The airport covered 133 acres (54ha) at an elevation of 580 feet (177 m) above mean sea level. It had two asphaltrunways: 18/36, 2,593 by 40 feet (790 x 12 m) and 9/27, 3,559 by 60 feet (1,085 x 18 m).[1]
In the year ending May 6, 2008 the airport's operations were distributed as follows: 58% general aviation, 40% air taxi and 1% military. 44 aircraft were then based at this airport: 79.5% single-engine and 20.5% multi-engine airplanes.[1]
On August 10, 2002, a Cessna Citation 500 was substantially damaged during a deer strike while departing from the Griffing Sandusky Airport. The pilot reported that he was departing on runway 09. During rotation, a deer crossed the runway and impacted the nose gear of the airplane. The pilot continued the takeoff and diverted to Toledo Express Airport (TOL). The pilot made two passes over TOL, while ground rescue personnel verified that the nose landing gear was not fully extended. After burning additional fuel, the pilot made an approach to runway 25 at TOL. About 100 feet above the ground, he shut down the engines, fuel shut-off, and generators. The airplane then landed on runway 25 and came to rest on the fork of the nose gear and gear doors. The probable cause of the accident was found to be a collision with a deer during a night takeoff.[4]
On July 20, 2003, a Piper PA-28 was substantially damaged during a go-around at the Griffing Sandusky Airport. The pilot reported that while turning onto the final approach path, he observed a twin-engine airplane on a taxiway near the runway. The pilot was not certain if the airplane was going to utilize the runway, and elected to go-around. The pilot subsequently applied full power and retracted one of two notches of flaps. The pilot observed the twin-engine airplane passing under his airplane's wing. The Piper's engine then began to "stumble," and the pilot felt the yoke in his left hand becoming very heavy. He looked down at the power quadrant and noticed that the engine mixture control was pulled back. The pilot pushed mixture control in and lowered the airplane's nose to avoid a stall; however, the airplane struck trees about 1/2 mile beyond the departure end of the runway. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain the engine mixture control during the go-around, which resulted in a loss of power and an in-flight collision with trees.[5]
On May 4, 2011, a Commander 114B airplane was substantially damaged while landing at the Griffing Sandusky Airport. The pilot reported that the final approach was uneventful and that there was a 6 knot crosswind that required aileron input to manage. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear, slightly right of the runway centerline, and the landing roll was uneventful for 40-60 yards until the aircraft veered left. The pilot's application of right rudder and full right brake were not successful in regaining directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway into an area of soft grass. The airplane subsequently swerved back onto the runway before coming to rest. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's inadequate directional control while landing in a variable crosswind.[6]
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