Runway 13 at KRCA
Runway 13/31 at Ellsworth Air Force Base (KRCA) in Rapid City is a 13,497 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 138°/318°. The runway is 300 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 6 landings and 1 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 33.3% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (3 events).
Runway 13/31 at Ellsworth Air Force Base (KRCA) in Rapid City is a 13,497 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 138°/318°. The runway is 300 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 6 landings and 1 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 33.3% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (3 events).
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
6 landings observed on Runway 13 in the last 30 days, alongside 1 departures.
Elevated Go-Around Rate
33.3% of arrivals at Runway 13 result in a go-around (3 in the last 30 days).
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 03:00 with 2 arrivals on the recent sample.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KRCA have prevailed from the north-northwest (330°), accounting for roughly 21% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 9.5 kt with peak gusts to 53 kt. Strong winds (≥20 kt) occur on about 9% of observations — pilots flying into runway 13 should plan for occasional gusty conditions.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 13 grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Go-Around Analysis
A go-around occurs when a pilot aborts a landing attempt and initiates a climb to return for another approach. While go-arounds are a normal safety procedure, their frequency and causes provide insight into operational challenges at specific runways. Runway 13 experienced go-arounds in 33.3% of arrivals over the last 30 days (3 events of 9 attempts).
Recent Go-Around Events
These events represent normal safety procedures and do not indicate operational deficiencies.
Go-Around Causes Distribution
Environmental factors dominate go-around causes, indicating that operational procedures remain sound.
Approach Types and Categories
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 13 benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.
Related Pages
Airport Overview
View complete statistics for KRCA
Other Runways at KRCA
This is the only runway at KRCA.
Search Flights on Runway 13
Find specific flights that used this runway