Jan 2013 Coby Sena’s flight to Copalis State Beach Airport, Washington
Here’s an adventure flight we should all figure out a way to make happen! Thank you to Coby Sena for sending in her pictures and describing her wonderful flight up the coast from San Jose, California to Washington state. And who knew Washington has a beach runway – that’s legal?
Coby Sena flying Cessna 180
This past summer I flew my husband and two friends to the Seattle area to visit some other friends. We made the trip in a beautiful Cessna 180. One of the highlights of the trip was landing at Copalis State Beach Airport (S16) just before sundown.
Copalia (photo WSDOT)
Copalis is the only beach in WA where landing is legal – possibly in all the lower 48. It is simply a stretch of beach with a windsock at each end. It is an official airport run by the WA Department of Transportation (for info http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/
Since this airport is also a public beach, I had to overfly the landing area first to make sure the beachgoers got out of the way before we landed – there were a few surf fishing from the landing area. Not something I need to do everyday! I also had to check the tides before planning our landing time.
Coby on the beach, Copalis State Airport
It was an awesome adventure – right up with beach landings in Baja!
Oh, in addition, I passed my CFI exam in October and am now teaching part-time at AeroDynamic Aviation at Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, CA.
Coby Sena
CFI
Alan
Posted at 21:58h, 17 JanuaryWonderful. Glad you were able to make it!
Larry m Gibson
Posted at 16:34h, 10 JanuaryI’m probably just jealous because you’re flying and I’m not. Is that a 185 or a modified 180? I noticed the 3 bladed prop, the squared off tail and the extra side windows.