The airport started in 1941 as NAS Rio Grande, named for its location near Rio Grande, New Jersey. Due to confusion with Rio Grande, Texas, the name was changed to NAS Wildwood in 1943. Following the end of World War II, Naval Air Station Wildwood was deemed excess to U.S. Navy requirements. It was subsequently deeded to the local government for transition to a civilian airport which is still in operation today as Cape May County Airport.
Facilities and aircraft
Cape May County Airport covers an area of 996 acres at an elevation of 21 feet above mean sea level. It has two runways with asphalt surfaces: 1/19 is 5,252 by 150 feet and 10/28 is 4,998 by 150 feet. For the 12-month period ending November 1, 2010, the airport had 30,200 aircraft operations, an average of 82 per day: 99% general aviation and 1% military. At that time there were 48 aircraft based at this airport: 90% single-engine, 8% multi-engine, and 2% jet. FlightLevel Aviation is the current Fixed Base Operator on the field serving General Aviation traffic. FBO services include full and self-serve 100LL Avgas and full service Jet A fuel. On-field services include Flight Deck Diner and Kindle Car Rental. Locations off-field include Cape May National Golf Course, Lobster House Restaurant and the Wetlands Institute.
Incidents
On December 12, 1976, an Atlantic City AirlinesDe Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operating as Allegheny Commuter Flight 977 crashed short of the runway. Of the two crew members, one died and one sustained serious injuries. Of the passengers, two died and six sustained serious injuries. One seriously injured passenger died one month after the accident, but was counted as a survivor by the National Transportation Safety Board report, because it defined fatalities as individuals who died within seven days of the accident. On August 27, 1993, F-16A 82-0990 of the 134th FS, 158th FW, Vermont Air National Guard, USAF was written off when it Crash landed and skidded off runway at the Cape May County Airport. The pilot ejected and landed in a drainage ditch According to the following extract from the official USAF inquiry into the incident: "On 27 August 1993, was scheduled as flight lead of a two-ship cross country flight from Burlington IAP, VT to Langley AFB, VA. The flight was to-include air-to-air refuelling followed by Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics with F-15 Eagles and landing at the unit's Alert Detachment Base. The flight departed Burlington IAP, VT at 08:58 local EDT with the call sign of Maple 91. Refuelling with a KC-135 Tanker and DACT with F-15's in MOA W-105 was as scheduled. During the recovery to Langley AFB, VA, a descent was accomplished from FL 410 to FL 310. Upon levelling out at FL 310 and advancing the throttle the Mishap Pilot experienced a compressor stall. The MP turned west toward land and accomplished a Unified Fuel Control airstart which was successful and gave him idle thrust at 20,000 ft. When the MP again moved the throttle, a second stall occurred passing 17,000 ft. Another UFC air start was accomplished giving the idle thrust. The MP concentrated on flying a Simulated Flame out Approach into Cape May County Airport, NJ. The SFO was flown with touchdown at 200 knots IAS, 500 feet from the approach end of runway 01. The total length of the runway is 4,998 feet and the MP was unable to stop the aircraft and initiated a successful ejection prior to the aircraft leaving the paved surface of the runway. The aircraft continued straight ahead, proceeded across a road, and came to rest in an abandoned landfill approximately 950 feet from the departure end of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed by breakup and post-crash fire" Note that, as the report is redacted/censored, the pilot involved is not named, and is only referred to as "MP" = "Mishap Pilot"
