Huntington Beach : Airport Owners Asked if They Plan to Keep Field

After hearing testimony regarding recent crashes, vandalism and other problems at Meadowlark Airport, the City Council has told the airport’s owners that they should state whether they intend to retain the field or develop it.

“If they are going to retain it, they should bring it up to today’s standards,” Mayor Ruth Bailey said at a meeting between the City Council and the Meadowlark Airport Committee on Monday. She said testimony indicated that there are recurring problems, such as malfunctioning runway lights, but that recent mishaps at the airport were the result of pilot error rather than airport deficiencies.

A Cessna 172 that crashed into a nearby office building shortly after takeoff Saturday was apparently overloaded by about 150 pounds, she said. Four people suffered minor injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the crash, will report to the airport committee, which will then report to the council at its Oct. 15 meeting.

Bailey said the city will also look into complaints that trees in the airport’s takeoff pattern are obstructions and will consider whether they should be chopped down. She said night and early morning flights also will be scrutinized.

The Nerio family, owners of the airport, applied for a rezoning for a mobile home park in the past but then withdrew those plans. Meadowlark Airport Manager Art Nerio declined to comment.

There have been five injury crashes at the private airport in the past five years.