Selenite / Factory Butte Coal Mine | Utah Back Country Pilots Association

Selenite / Factory Butte Coal Mine

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Airstrip Info

Frequency 122.90
Elevation 4775 ft
Lat/Long 38.4867, -110.915
38° 29.202' , -110° 54.9'
Runway 7/25 1590 ft
Dirt
Ownership SITLA

Weather

See more at the National Weather Center

Information updated April 7, 2021 @ 1:56am

Description: If you’re still waiting on a space flight to Mars, Selenite may offer a preview of a similar landscape and remoteness. Just outside of the San Rafael Swell this is just a short flight from Hidden Splendor. At one point this must have been a busy mine with three runways of which two are still open, useable, and in great shape. Mining artifacts still remain scattered at the east end of the strip and with a short hike it is possible to explore parts of the Morrison Formation. 
 
Runway: A large washout to the east has shortened the main runway. It can be soft here in the spring and fall frost heaves but at other times can be hard as concrete. 
 
Approach Considerations: This strip offers a landing location during higher winds when other strips are too turbulent. Evidence of UTV traffic can be seen here frequently so a good landing survey should be preformed. 
 
Parking: Most the airstrip could be used as parking. A small desert oasis-looking area to the east could offer an interesting place to camp. Limited to no cell coverage. 
Dustin Dickerson visited 3 months ago in a Kitfox STI with 29” tires

Landed west. Runway soft.

2 Likes , 0 Comments


Randy Owen visited 3 months ago in a Zenith 701 with 21” tires

Runway has a lot of cattle tracks and ATV tracks at both ends, but the middle section is okay, if a little soft.

3 Likes , 0 Comments


Dan Richards visited 4 months ago in a Rans S-21

As others have commented the ground is a little soft. Cows were out but vacated after a low pass.

0 Likes , 0 Comments


Marc Lassaux visited 5 months ago in a ICP Savannah S with 21 tires

Factory Butte a little soft, but not too bad. Cows and a watering hole towards east end of the bigger east west runway. That part of runway is unusable.

2 Likes , 0 Comments


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