New Jerusalem Airport, Tracy, CA
Location: The New Jerusalem Airport is located 7
miles south east of Tracy, California.
History: Former New Jerusalem Auxiliary Field
number 3 was used as an auxiliary airfield by the
Department of Defense from 1942 to 1948. The
site continues to be run by the city of Tracy as a
civilian airport.
New Jerusalem Airport Today:
This small airport, run by the city of Tracy is open for
daylight operations primarily for flight training. Aerobatics;
Agricultural operations; Ballooning; RC models; Ultralights;
Airport
Services and Amenities:
Special Events and Attractions:
Airport
Area Accident History:Accident occurred Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Tracy, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/22/2009
Aircraft: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC RAVEN S49A, registration: N6378E
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Uninjured.
The pilot reported that while approaching an open field for landing, the balloon
suddenly slowed down. Shortly after, he noticed that the balloon had contacted
power line wires and that the lines were traveling down the side of the
balloon's envelope and uprights and trapped his passenger against the basket.
The pilot stated that the passenger was able to free herself as he was able to
kick the wires from the corner of the basket. The balloon subsequently ascended
about 200 feet. The pilot proceeded to initiate a landing in the nearest open
field and landed without further incident. The pilot further reported that
neither he nor his passenger saw the power lines prior to impact. Examination of
the hot air balloon revealed that the envelope and basket sustained minor
damage; however, the passenger sustained serious injuries.
= = =
= = =
A 55-year-old Turlock man died Sunday February 28, 2010,
after his ultralight plane folded in half and fell from the sky while he did
stunts 800 feet above the New Jerusalem Airport southeast of Tracy.
The pilot was doing flips in the small plane shortly after 2:30 p.m. when one of
its wings snapped, Mike Jefferson, a hang gliding instructor who witnessed the
crash.
The man opened a parachute attached to the ultralight, but it got tangled in the
plane’s tail, and the aircraft nosedived into the ground about 200 feet south of
the runway, Jefferson said.
New Jerusalem
Airport Approach /
Landing:
