Missouri Simulator Tour-Caruthersville to New Madrid
Previous leg: Kennett to Caruthersville
Although I filed an instrument flight plan on the Dexter-Kennett flight, today’s leg, January 25, 2016, was the first with actual IMC. After checking the weather in Caruthersville I filed an IFR flight plan from Caruthersville (M05) to New Madrid (KEIW), namesake of the New Madrid fault and the seat of New Madrid county.
The New Madrid County Memorial Airport is located about five miles southwest of town, making for a 22 nm leg.
In good weather it would have been extremely easy navigation, simply following the Mississippi River north. Ceilings of 1,500′ MSL changed things. Five minutes after takeoff I was in the clouds and did not really see the ground again until right before landing.
Even those of you not from Missouri are probably familiar with the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812. The most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in the western hemisphere happened right here. The town was also the site of a major battle in the Civil War as Union troops tried to clear the Mississippi River for navigation. Both events are commemorated in a very well done museum right on the city waterfront.
In the photo above it is possible to see the Mississippi River on the left side of the picture with the town of New Madrid directly ahead. Runway 18 is just barely visible five miles to the south. The flight was bumpy, but otherwise uneventful.
Flight details: M05-KEIW, 22 nm, 0.7 hours (0.2 hours IFR)
Next leg: Finishing up the Bootheel
