Lorain County Regional Airport

Lorain County Regional Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorLorain County Board of Commissioners
ServesLorain / Elyria, Ohio
LocationNew Russia Township
OpenedNovember 4, 1968 (1968-11-04)
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (-5)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (-4)
Elevation AMSL793 ft (242 m)
Coordinates41°20′39.4″N 082°10′39.5″W / 41.344278°N 82.177639°W / 41.344278; -82.177639
Websitehttps://www.loraincountyohio.gov/313/Regional-Airport
Map
LPR is located in Ohio
LPR
LPR
Location of airport in Ohio
LPR is located in the United States
LPR
LPR
LPR (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
7/25 5,002 1,525 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Aircraft operations21,900
Based aircraft88
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Lorain County Regional Airport (IATA: LPR[2], ICAO: KLPR, FAA LID: LPR) is a public airport in Lorain County, Ohio,[1] owned by the Lorain County Board of Commissioners[1] and located in New Russia Township.[3] The airport is about 7 miles south of Lorain[1] and 5 miles southwest of Elyria.[4] The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation reliever airport.[5]

The airport holds a regular Discover Aviation Day. The event features aircraft such as the Ford Tri-Motor, a World War II-era B-25 bomber, gliders, and more.[6][7]

History

Plans to build an airport in Lorain County began as early as September 1964, when a study proposed locating one of two new airports for Greater Cleveland there.[8] Concrete steps started in late February 1966, when an airport authority was established.[9] After a 1,045-acre (423 ha) site was endorsed by the FAA in early May, the authority stated it would seek Federal aid.[10] In late June 1966, Lorain agreed to raise $92,000 to build the airport.[11] Elyria followed suit by voting to provide $192,000 a week and a half later.[12] The day after it received an approximately $320,000 Federal grant in mid December, the airport authority announced it would be soliciting contracts before the end of the month.[13]

A group led by a professor at Oberlin College was founded in February 1967 to oppose the proposed location of the airport and within a few weeks it considered a plan for a referendum on the issue.[14][15] A public hearing on the subject was held by the FAA less than a month later.[16] It was discovered in late March that insufficient funds in the city of Elyria's coffers could prevent the construction of the airport.[17] Despite the approval of plans for the airport by the FAA in May, a supportive ruling by a judge regarding matching local funds in early June, and the awarding of a construction contract later that month, a series of noise tests was ordered in July.[18][19][20][21] Federal money for the airport was finally made available following the signing of an agreement in October.[22] The airport opened on 4 November 1968.[23]

The airport authority president resigned in January 1969 amidst an investigation into a potential conflict of interest involving his role in land acquired for the facility.[24] Operation of the airport was transferred to a private company in mid-1971 after it had lost $50,000 since opening.[25] By June 1973, the airport was seeking funds to construct a taxiway to reduce congestion.[26] In September 1978, Midwest Air Charter, a cargo airline that had built a business flying paper checks, announced it had purchased the Wilmington Air Park and would be relocating there.[27] The airline, which planned to purchase larger jets that would need a longer runway than was available at Lorain County, had made up the majority of flights from the airport. As a result, the airport was expected to operate at a loss and was forced to ask for money from local authorities.[28]

In 1982, it was announced that the 316th Medical Evacuation Unit of the U.S. Army Reserve would be moving from Cleveland-Hopkins to Lorain County.[29] By early March 1983, the airport was attempting to negotiate between three different cities for the construction of a sewer line.[30] Yet, despite a compromise to involve two of the three being reached, a dispute led to neither providing the service.[a][31] By 1987, it was still attempting to have a connection made.[32] The airport received a federal grant to construct a taxiway in mid September 1989.[33]

The Cleveland Wing of the Confederate Air Force began holding annual airshows at the airport in 1989.[34] The first plane assigned to the unit, an SNJ-4, arrived at the airport in mid January 1991.[35] By early August 1992, the wing was planning to move to the airport and hoped to establish an aviation museum there.[36] By early June 1995, the group, since renamed the American Air Heritage Foundation, intended to break ground on a facility within a few months.[37] However, by early August 1996, it had shifted its efforts for a museum to the Lost Nation Airport.[38]

Following approval by state lawmakers in June 1994, planning for a 150-acre (61 ha) industrial park at the airport began.[39] In mid February 1996, it was announced that the 316th Medical Evacuation Unit would close. The unit had been the biggest customer of fuel for the fixed-base operator.[40] Four months later, questions were being raised over the value of the airport to the community.[41] A proposal to extend the runway to 7,000-foot (2,100 m) in January 1997 was opposed by local residents. At the same time, Lorain and Elyria threatened to stop paying their combined two-thirds of the airport's budget.[42] A study, released in February 1998, projected that cargo flights would not offset the cost of the extension.[43] A rally held at Oberlin College in early December again resisted growth of the airport.[44] By early March 1999, two companies were vying to operate the airport.[45]

The airport was the center of controversy in 2005 when the Lorain County Commissioners met and voted on whether to take over the airport in private. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the meeting's private nature, calling the action a violation of people’s right to information about decisions that affect them. The Commissioners eventually rescinded their vote and met again in public.[46] By early January 2006, the airport manager was attempting to cancel his contract as a result of a dispute with the county.[47] A few months later, the airport submitted a plan to the FAA to extend the runway – although to length 500 feet (150 m) shorter than the previous attempt.[48] Construction on 48 new hangars was to begin in mid September 2007.[49] One of Metro LifeFlight's helicopters moved to the airport in early April 2009.[50]

The airport received $69,000 in federal stimulus from the CARES Act to help it weather the COVID-19 pandemic.[51] In 2023, the airport received another $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to improve the airport.[52] Funding for a plan to build a 1,000-acre (4,000,000 m2) megasite near the airport and extend the runway to 6,500 ft (2,000 m) was announced in July 2025.[53]

Facilities and aircraft

Lorain County Regional Airport covers 1,149 acres (465 ha) at an elevation of 793 feet (242 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway, 7/25, 5,002 by 100 feet (1,525 x 30 m).[1][54]

In the year ending September 28, 2020 the airport had 21,900 aircraft operations, average 60 per day: 94% general aviation and 6% air taxi. This is down from 42,610 operations in 2010. 88 aircraft were then based at the airport in 2022: 70 single-engine and 7 multi-engine airplanes as well as 1 helicopter and 1 glider.[1][54][55]

The airport has a fixed-base operator that has fuel, both avgas and jet fuel, as well as aircraft maintenance, catering, hangars, courtesy transportation, a conference room, a crew lounge, and more.[56]

Incidents

  • On 9 August 1975, two Cessna 150s collided while landing at the airport, killing a pilot and injuring 2 others.[57]
  • On 27 April 1979, a twin-engine aircraft crashed while landing at the airport, killing the two pilots.[58]
  • On 19 February 1986, a Cessna 182 crashed while landing at the airport, killing the pilot and injuring 4 passengers.[59]
  • On 25 July 1995, a Rutan Quickie broke in half after crashing due to propwash from an airplane taking off ahead of it.[60]
  • On February 19, 2002, a Hughes 269C was substantially damaged during a takeoff attempt from a platform at the Lorain County Regional Airport. The pilot reported he lifted the helicopter off the platform "quickly." As the aircraft climbed, it began a turn to the right, and the pilot applied left pedal to counteract. As the pilot continued to increase the collective, the helicopter began a 360-degree "aggravated spin" to the right. The pilot then "chopped" the throttle and the collective, and the helicopter "dropped fast." He added a slight amount of collective before landing, and the spin to the right became more aggravated. The helicopter then impacted the platform and rolled over onto its side. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.[61]
  • On September 1, 2005, a Dessault Falcon 20D operated by USA Jet Airlines on a cargo flight to Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport crashed while taking off from the Lorain County Regional Airport. The aircraft impacted a flock of birds while on its takeoff run, ingesting them into both engines and causing the first engine to fail. The aircraft climbed for 10 seconds when the stall warning sounded. The pilot flying adjusted the flight controls for landing, and the airplane contacted the runway straight-and-level 3,000 feet after rotation. The airplane overran the runway, struck a fence, crossed a road, and came to rest in a cornfield about 1,000 feet beyond the initial point of ground contact. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the ingestion of multiple birds in each engine at takeoff, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power.[62]
  • On May 15, 2003, a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster crashed after departure from Lorain County Regional Airport. When the pilot leveled off after departure, the low fuel pressure light illuminated, and the fuel flow was lower than normal. There was no change when the pilot turned on the boost pump and ignition, and the low fuel pressure light remained activated. The pilot advanced the power lever to full, but there was no response from the engine, and the pilot heard what he thought was a decreasing engine noise. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing. The probable cause was found to be the pilot's failure to verify the position of the fuel selectors prior to takeoff, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel starvation.[63]
  • On January 18, 2010, a Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop crashed on approach, killing four.[64][65][66]
  • On May 23, 2015, a Vans RV-6A was damaged while landing at the Lorain County Regional Airport During the landing flare, the left wing lifted up and the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane immediately descended, impacted the ground, and slid off the runway. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain airplane attitude control during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, hard landing, and runway excursion.[67]
  • On June 30, 2019, an aircraft crashed just outside the airport.[68]
  • On November 17, 2019, a Navion aircraft landed gear-up at the Lorain County Regional Airport.[69]

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ At the same time, three inches of pavement were added to the runway to support larger aircraft.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for LPR" (PDF). FAA. . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Lorain County Regional Airport (IATA: LPR)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Lorain County Regional Airport". Lorain County. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Distance and heading from Elyria (41°22'24"N 82°06'06"W) to LPR (41°20'39"N 82°10'39"W)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Appendix A: List of NPIAS Airports with 5-Year Forecast Activity and Development Cost". National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) Reports. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-10-27.
  6. ↑ "County Airport Soars with Discover Aviation Day". North Ridgeville Review. 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  7. ↑ "Community Calendar". Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. 2014-08-21. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  8. ↑ Brown, Glenn (24 September 1964). "2 New Airports Urged Here". The Plain Dealer. p. 28. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lorain Gets Its Airport Authority". Chillicothe Gazette. AP. 26 February 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Russia Township Site Gets Lorain County Airport OK". The Plain Dealer. 4 May 1966. p. 30. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Airport Project Faces Troubles". Fremont News-Messenger. 23 June 1966. p. 23. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Elyria Gives Big Lift to Lorain Airport Fund". The Plain Dealer. 30 June 1966. p. 67. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Lorain to Seek Bids for Building Airport". The Plain Dealer. 17 December 1966. p. 4. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Committee Forms to Fight Airport". The Plain Dealer. 21 February 1967. p. 43. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Group May Ask Voters to Block Lorain Airport". The Plain Dealer. 6 March 1967. p. 34. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  16. ↑ Grisso, James L. (15 March 1967). "FAA Hears Views on Lorain Airport". The Plain Dealer. p. 34. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  17. ↑ Grisso, James L. (21 March 1967). "Elyria's Money Lack Peril's Airport". The Plain Dealer. p. 40. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  18. ↑ Grisso, James L. (10 May 1967). "Lorain Gets FAA Nod for Airport". The Plain Dealer. p. 43. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "Grant to Lorain County Airport Ruled Legal". The Plain Dealer. 10 June 1967. p. 28. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Lorain County Assured of Regional Airport". Cleveland Press. 28 June 1967. p. F6. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "New Tests Delay Lorain Airport". The Plain Dealer. 18 July 1967. p. 11. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Gets Airport Aid". Marion Star. AP. 4 October 1967. p. 31. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Lorain Asks Airport Funds". Cleveland Press. Press State Service. 22 November 1968. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  24. ↑ "Lorain Airport Chief Resigns During Probe". Cleveland Press. 21 January 1969. p. B8. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "Private Firm Gets Lorain County Aiport". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. AP. 1 July 1971. p. 18. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  26. ↑ "Lorain County Airport Addition Hinges on City of Lorain Funding". The Plain Dealer. 12 July 1973. p. 2-E. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  27. ↑ "Air Cargo Company Buys Facilities at Air Park". Wilmington News-Journal. 29 September 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  28. ↑ "Lorain County Asks Aid". The Plain Dealer. 26 September 1978. p. 7-A. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  29. ↑ Thomas, Rick (10 February 1982). "Helicopter Unit to Leave Hopkins for Lorain County". Cleveland Press. p. H3. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "3 Cities Compete for Lorain Airport Services". The Plain Dealer. 4 March 1983. p. 10-A. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  31. ↑ Washington, Julie (2 October 1983). "Lorain Airport Project Missing Key Ingredient". The Plain Dealer. p. 29-A. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "Lorain County Changes Plans for Sewer". The Plain Dealer. 14 January 1987. p. 6-B. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  33. ↑ "Lorain County Granted Funds". News Journal. 12 September 1989. p. 4-A. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  34. ↑ Robles, Frances (3 August 1991). "WWII Plane Buffs Step Back Into History at Air Show". The Plain Dealer. p. 3-B. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  35. ↑ Stephens, Scott (19 January 1991). "Bit of History Lands at Airport". The Plain Dealer. p. 1-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  36. ↑ Schaefer, Karen (7 August 1992). "High on History". The Plain Dealer. p. 3M. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  37. ↑ Schaefer, Karen (6 June 1995). "Business is Soaring at Lorain's Regional Airport". The Plain Dealer. p. 10-A. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  38. ↑ "World War II Plane on View". The Plain Dealer. 1 August 1996. p. 2-B. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  39. ↑ Rutchick, Joel (9 July 1994). "Airport Foresees Economic Boost". The Plain Dealer. p. 1-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  40. ↑ Clark, Sandra (17 February 1996). "Military Cuts Ending Ties that Bind Reserve Unit". The Plain Dealer. p. 1-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  41. ↑ Exner, Rich (10 July 1966). "Not Yet Cleared for Takeoff". The Plain Dealer. p. 2-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  42. ↑ Henderson, Karen; Exner, Rich (24 January 1997). "Lorain County Airport Runway Debate Heats Up". The Plain Dealer. pp. 1-B, 4-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  43. ↑ Henderson, Karen (19 February 1998). "Economist Says Cargo Planes Carry Trouble". The Plain Dealer. p. 5-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  44. ↑ Gonzalez, Jennifer (9 December 1998). "Airport Expansion Opposed". The Plain Dealer. p. 3-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  45. ↑ Exner, Rich (8 March 1999). "Elyria Airport Attracts Second Suitor". The Plain Dealer. p. 3-B. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  46. ↑ "ACLU to Lorain Commissioners: "Meetings Must Be Public"". ACLU of Ohio. 17 May 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  47. ↑ Matzelle, Carl (20 January 2006). "Lorain County Official, Airport Director Tangle". The Plain Dealer. p. B3. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  48. ↑ Matzelle, Carl (22 April 2006). "Lorain Airport Needs Longer Runway, for Freight, Charters, Manager Says". The Plain Dealer. p. B2. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  49. ↑ Kavanaugh, Molly (13 September 2007). "Lorain County Airport Expanding". The Plain Dealer. pp. B1, B5. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  50. ↑ Spector, Kevin (10 April 2009). "LifeFlight Moves Bases to 'Exurbs'". The Plain Dealer. pp. B1–B2. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  51. ↑ Mosby, Chris (15 April 2020). "Lorain County Regional Airport Gets $69K from Federal Stimulus". Patch. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  52. ↑ Chapin, Heather (14 June 2023). "Lorain County Regional Airport to Receive $500,000 Grant for Improvements". Morning Journal. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  53. ↑ "Manning Secures Funding for Lorain Mega Site Project". Ohio House of Representatives. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  54. 1 2 "LPR - Lorain County Regional Airport | SkyVector". skyvector.com. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  55. ↑ "AirNav: KLPR - Lorain County Regional Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  56. ↑ "MRK Aviation FBO Info & Fuel Prices at Lorain County Rgnl (KLPR)". FlightAware. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  57. ↑ Woge, Mairy Jayne (10 August 1975). "Midair Collision at Lorain Airport Kills Student Pilot, Hurts 2 Others". The Plain Dealer. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  58. ↑ "Probe Starts of Air Crash in Lorain". Cleveland Press. 28 April 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  59. ↑ Woge, Mairy Jayn (20 February 1986). "One Dies in Plane Crash Near Lorain County Airport". The Plain Dealer. pp. 1-A, 14-A. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  60. ↑ Clark, Sandra (26 July 1995). "Crash Won't Ground Pilot for Long". The Plain Dealer. p. 1-B. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  61. ↑ "Hughes 269C crash in Ohio (N9296F) | PlaneCrashMap.com". planecrashmap.com. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  62. ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident Dassault Falcon 20D N821AA Lorain County Regional Airport, OH (LPR)". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  63. ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster N208AD Lorain County Regional Airport, OH (LPR)". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  64. ↑ "Wife: Pilot husband among 3 killed in Ohio crash". Associated Press. January 18, 2010. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  65. ↑ "NTSB: No Signs of Trouble in Fatal Plane Crash". Fox 8 News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  66. ↑ "Pilot error caused plane crash that killed four". Lorain Morning Journal.
  67. ↑ "Rogers HOMER/ROGERS Sheila Rv 6A crash in Ohio (N3086Q) | PlaneCrashMap.com". planecrashmap.com. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  68. ↑ "63-year-old pilot killed in plane crash near Lorain County Airport". wkyc.com. June 30, 2019. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  69. ↑ Justice, Camryn (2019-11-17). "Troopers investigate minor aircraft crash at Lorain County Regional Airport". News 5 Cleveland WEWS. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
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