Montgomery County Airpark is a U.S. public airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of the city of Gaithersburg, in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States.

History

1960s

The airport was built by Silver Spring developer William E. Richardson in 1960, in an area that was then rural. The original plan was to build an airport, a 9-hole golf course, and a hotel on the 388 acre of land. The Montgomery County Planning Board voted 3–2 in favor of rezoning the land to allow the airport to be built. Those in favor on the Board said that Montgomery County "desperately" needed an airport and that the additional industry would help bring in tax revenue, while those opposed said that the airport would destroy the rural aspect of the surrounding area. Richardson deeded title to the land to Montgomery County, which leased the land back to him to operate the airport. Richardson planned to operate charter flights and an air taxi to National Airport, Baltimore's Friendship Airport, and the soon-to-be-opened Dulles Airport. The airport was dedicated on October 22, 1960. The airport was initially managed by Richardson's son, James E. Richardson, and Richard T. Kreuzburg, a former Capital Airlines pilot. After having a simple hangar during its first four years of operation, a terminal building was built in 1964.

2000s

On July 20, 2001, one of the hijackers in the future September 11 attacks, Hani Hanjour, flew to the Montgomery County Airpark from Fairfield, New Jersey, on a practice flight with fellow hijacker Nawaf Alhazmi.

Facilities

Runways

Montgomery County Airpark covers 125 acre and has one runway.

Navigational aids

On-field services

Flying clubs

Accidents and incidents

At least 30 plane crashes have occurred at or near Montgomery County Airpark since 1983. On December 8, 2014, a plane crashed into houses while on approach to Runway 14 at Montgomery County Airpark. Six people died, the three occupants of the plane and three people in the house the plane hit. On November 27, 2022, a Mooney M20J-201 (N201RF) crashed into a powerline while on approach to Runway 14 at Montgomery County Airpark. Both occupants survived with some injuries but were trapped in the aircraft for several hours.