Seneca County Airport

Seneca County Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerSeneca County
ServesSeneca County
LocationTiffin, Ohio
Opened1968
Built1967
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (-5)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (-4)
Elevation AMSL786 ft (240 m)
Coordinates41°05′38″N 083°12′45″W / 41.09389°N 83.21250°W / 41.09389; -83.21250
Map
16G is located in Ohio
16G
16G
Location of airport in Ohio
16G is located in the United States
16G
16G
16G (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 4,000 1,219.2 Asphalt
Statistics (2021)
Aircraft operations60,225
Based aircraft33
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

The Seneca County Airport (FAA LID: 16G) is a county-owned public-use airport located 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of the central business district of Tiffin, a city in Seneca County, Ohio, United States.[1]

History

Planning for the airport began in 1944. The airport was originally intended to be a municipal airport for the city of Tiffin. Though an appointed committee decided there was need for an airport, no action was taken until 1954, when a firm was hired to develop a master plan for the airport.[2]

In December 1964, the city approved a plan to buy 240 acres (97 ha) and then lease it to Dwight Knepper to operate.[3] As a previous bond issue had failed, it announced plans for a fundraising effort to pay for the airport with public donations in late February 1965.[4] After a period of dormancy, the fundraising effort was restarted in mid June.[5] By the third week of September, it was discovered that state grants were only available to airports administered at the county level. As a result, plans for a municipal airport were scrapped and replaced by those for a county airport.[6] Initially, a location near Bascom was proposed. However, by late September, a site in Bettsville was being considered as a compromise to include Fremont.[7]

The land was transferred to the county by early June 1966.[8] Later that month, it was announced that a 36,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) factory would be built in an adjacent industrial park.[9] A $100,000 state grant was authorized by mid July.[10]

Airport construction began in 1967.[2] However, work was paused when heavy rain resulted in the base under the runway failing. Construction resumed in early October.[11][12] The airport and its 4,000-foot (1,200 m) long runway were dedicated on 18 August 1968.[13][14] Construction of a 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) factory for the Hansen Machine Company in the industrial park had begun by early February 1970.[15] Airport infrastructure was greatly expanded in the 1970s: lighting, an airport radio frequency, and navigational equipment were installed.[2]

The airport received a grant in the 1990s to remove obstacles located at either end of the runway. Additional hangars were also built.[2]

The airport received $230,000 in 2012 to upgrade its runway and pavement as well as to install guidance signage.[16]

As of 2024, the airport has updated its weather reporting system and is planning to update its master plan. The airport's federal funding has increased from $159,000 to nearly $300,000.[17][18]

Facilities and aircraft

Seneca County Airport has one runway designated as runway 6/24. It measures 4,000 x 75 ft (1,219.2 x 22.9 m) and is paved with asphalt.[1]

The airport has a fixed-base operator, Tiffin Aire, that sells fuel. It has services such as aircraft maintenance, oxygen, hangars, and courtesy transportation; amenities such as internet, a conference room, pilot supplies, a crew lounge, showers, and more are available.[19] Tiffin Aire is also a maintenance center specializing in propellers.[20][21]

For the 12-month period ending October 1, 2021, the airport had 60,225 aircraft operations, an average of 165 per day. This included 91% general aviation, 8% air taxi, and <1% military. For the same time period, 33 aircraft were based at the airport, including 22 single-engine and 10 multi-engine airplanes as well as 1 jet airplane.[22]

Accidents & incidents

  • On September 18, 2005, a Piper PA-24 Comanche was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after departure from runway 24 at the Seneca County Airport. A witness reported that he thought he heard the plane attempting to return to the airport after takeoff. Engine power sounded intermittent. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's decision to takeoff in weather below the published takeoff minimums, which resulted in spatial disorientation and the airplane's collision with trees and terrain.[23]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for 16G" (PDF). FAA. , effective 2008-07-31.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Newman, Kim (2000). "History of the Seneca County Airport". Tiffin-Seneca Public Library. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  3. ↑ "Tiffin Council Passes Airport Plan". The Blade. 8 December 1964. p. 16. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Tiffin to Get Airport Through United Effort". The Blade. 23 February 1965. p. 22. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Tiffin Renews Campaign for Municipal Airport". The Blade. 24 June 1965. p. 25. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "County Airport Planned". Fremont News-Messenger. 11 September 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ask Tri-City Site for Seneca Airport". Sandusky Register. 20 September 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Airport Transferred to County Ownership". Fremont News-Messenger. 6 June 1966. p. 22. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Plant Housing Two Firms Planned in Seneca County". The Blade. 29 June 1966. p. 13. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Seneca County Airport to Get $100,000 Boost". Fremont News-Messenger. 16 July 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Resumption Set for Tiffin Airport Work". The Blade. 28 September 1967. p. 33. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Work at Airport". Fremont News-Messenger. 5 October 1967. p. 9. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Rhodes Opens New Airport Near Tiffin". The Blade. 19 August 1968. p. 17. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Rhodes Dedicates New Airport for Seneca County". Springfield Daily News. AP. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Plant Begun at Tiffin Area Airport". The Blade. 8 February 1970. p. E-14. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Seneca County to Get FAA Grant for Upgrades". The Blade. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Seneca County Airport to Receive Modern Weather System Upgrade". Scanner Media. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  18. ↑ Trevino, Kayla (1 March 2024). "County's Airport Consultant Gives Airport Plan Overview". The Advertiser-Tribune. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  19. ↑ "Tiffin Aire FBO Info & Fuel Prices at Seneca County (16G)". FlightAware. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  20. ↑ Newman, Kim (2000). "History of the Seneca County Airport". Tiffin-Seneca Public Library.
  21. ↑ "Tiffin Aire". Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  22. ↑ "AirNav: 16G - Seneca County Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  23. ↑ "Piper PA-24-260 crash in Ohio (N9311P) | PlaneCrashMap.com". planecrashmap.com. Retrieved 2024-04-22.


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