Edgar County Airport (ICAO: KPRG, FAA LID: PRG) is a public use airport in Edgar County, Illinois, United States. It is located five nautical miles (5.8 mi; 9.3 km) north of the central business district of Paris, Illinois.[1] The airport is included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.[2]

Edgar County Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerSup. Board of Edgar Co.
ServesParis, Illinois
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (-6)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (-5)
Elevation AMSL654 ft / 199 m
Coordinates39°42′01″N 87°40′11″W / 39.70028°N 87.66972°W / 39.70028; -87.66972
Maps
Location of Edgar County in Illinois
Location of Edgar County in Illinois
PRG is located in Illinois
PRG
PRG
Location of airport in Illinois
PRG is located in the United States
PRG
PRG
PRG (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 4,501 1,372 Asphalt
18/36 3,200 975 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Aircraft Aperations6,900
Based Aircraft13

Although many U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, this facility is assigned PRG by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA[3] (which assigned PRG to Ruzyne International Airport in Prague, Czech Republic[4]).

Facilities and aircraft

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Edgar County Airport covers an area of 180 acres (73 ha) at an elevation of 654 feet (199 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 9/27 has a surface measuring 4,501 by 75 feet (1,372 by 23 m). The second intersecting runway, designated 18/36, has a surface measuring 3,200 by 75 feet (975 by 23 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending August 31, 2019, the airport had 6,900 aircraft operations, an average of 19 per day: 99% general aviation and 1% air taxi. For the same time, there were 13 aircraft based at this airport: 11 single-engine airplanes, 1 multi-engine airplane, and 1 ultralight.[1]

Airport Controversy

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On August 27, 2013, pilot Rusty Bogue was involved in a fatal crash during takeoff from the Edgar County Airport. He was flying a Cessna 421, twin-engine six seat aircraft. The aircraft experienced apparent engine trouble and struck a tree a mile from the end of the runway.[5]

Bogue had been the victim of several issues instigated by the Edgar County Board, the Edgar County Airport Board, and the Airport Manager. There are numerous allegations of fraud, illegal contracts, and other abuses of power, including accusations involving the propriety of a concrete contract to extend the runway. This contract was placed with the concrete company owned by a now-former chair of the airport advisory board.[6]

On November 19, 2013, two aircraft, owned by the same owner as the Cessna 421 in which Bogue was killed, were damaged by incendiary devices placed on them. The planes had been spray painted with a threatening message to Bogue's father, Rob.[7]

The FAA and IDOT's Division of Aeronautics has stopped an airport improvement grant for three consecutive years due to alleged fraud in grant applications submitted by the former airport manager, Jimmy Wells, and the Edgar County Board.[8][9][10]

Accidents & Incidents

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  • On August 27, 2013, a Cessna 421C crashed just after takeoff. The aircraft had engine issues on takeoff and impacted a tree a mile after takeoff. Witnesses reported that the aircraft's takeoff run appeared slower than normal, and the aircraft was found to have used the entire runway and traveled through two different 300-foot fields.[5][11]
  • On November 19, 2013, two aircraft were destroyed by firebombs placed anonymously.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for PRG PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective Jan 5, 2017.
  2. ^ National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015: Appendix A (PDF, 2.03 MB) Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Federal Aviation Administration. Updated 4 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Edgar County Airport (FAA: PRG, ICAO: KPRG)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Ruzyne International Airport (IATA: PRG, ICAO: LKPR)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Paris pilot killed in local plane crash - the Paris Beacon-News: News". Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  6. ^ "Detailed Timeline: Rusty Bogue & the Edgar County Airport –". 21 October 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "FAA Orders Edgar County Airport to Suspend All Work –". 22 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Edgar Co. Airport – IDOT – Division of Aeronautics suspends airport grant work for second time in 18 months –". 10 February 2016.
  10. ^ "No Federal or State funds for Edgar County Airport –". 12 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Cessna 421C Golden Eagle, Venezia Marine Inc, N229H: Accident occurred August 27, 2013 in Paris, Illinois". Kathryn's Report. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
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