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Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport

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Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport
USGS orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerWood County Airport Authority
OperatorWood County Airport Authority
ServesParkersburg, West Virginia and Marietta, Ohio
Location543 Co. Route 31/1, Williamstown, West Virginia, United States
Elevation AMSL859 ft / 262 m
Coordinates39°20′42″N 081°26′22″W / 39.34500°N 81.43944°W / 39.34500; -81.43944
Websiteflymovra.com
Maps
PKB is located in West Virginia
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PKB is located in the United States
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Interactive map of Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 7,240 2,207 Asphalt
10/28 4,002 1,220 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Aircraft operations (year ending 7/22/2002)28,053
Based aircraft62
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport (IATA: PKB[2], ICAO: KPKB, FAA LID: PKB) is seven miles northeast of Parkersburg, in Wood County, West Virginia.[1] It is owned by the Wood County Airport Authority,[1] and is also known as Wood County Airport or Gill Robb Wilson Field. It serves the Mid-Ohio Valley area, which includes the Ohio cities of Marietta, Belpre and the West Virginian cities of Williamstown, Parkersburg, and Vienna. Its scheduled passenger services are subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. The airport itself is located along Interstate 77, just south of the border with Ohio.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Airport had 5,275 passenger boardings (enplanements) in the calendar year 2008,[3] 5,930 in 2009, and 5,477 in 2010.[4] The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a non-primary commercial service airport.[5]

History

The Parkersburg-Wood County Airport was dedicated on 8 September 1946.[6] Construction of the first part of a three part administration building began in November 1950.[7] By late August 1951, the airport had three 4,400-foot (1,300 m) runways.[8]

The first airline flights were American DC-3s in 1946. The airline All American arrived in 1949 and Piedmont in 1955; Lake Central replaced American in 1961. The first jets were operated by Allegheny at the end of 1976; Piedmont pulled out in 1979 and Allegheny Commuter replaced Allegheny in 1980.

The subtitle Gill Robb Wilson Field was added to the airport's name at a rededication on 2 June 1965.[9][10]

The airport received a federal grant to expand the runways, add a ramp for general aviation aircraft and perform various other improvements in February 1974.[11] The airport received a federal grant to build a terminal in June 1975.[12]

It was renamed the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport on 1 July 2003.[13]

A proposal to lease a vacant former West Virginia Air National Guard hangar for conversion into a flight school was made in 2017.[14]

An expansion of the West Virginia National Guard facility at the airport was approved by early March 2023.[15]

The airport disapproved of the Department of Transportation's 2025 decision to have Air Wisconsin serve it.[16]

Facilities

The airport covers 1,103 acres (446 ha) at an elevation of 859 feet (262 m). It has two asphalt runways: 3/21 is 7,240 by 150 feet (2,207 x 46 m) and 10/28 is 4,002 by 150 feet (1,220 x 46 m).[1]

In the year ending July 22, 2022, the airport had 28,053 aircraft operations, averaging 77 per day: 65% general aviation, 25% military, and 9% air taxi. 62 aircraft were then based at the airport: 39 single-engine, 11 military, 6 multi-engine, and 6 jet.[1]

Airline and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Contour Airlines Charlotte
Seasonal: Myrtle Beach (begins July 1, 2026)[17]		 [18]

Statistics

Carrier shares: July 2024 – June 2025
Carrier   Passengers (arriving and departing)
Contour Airlines
8,780(100%)

Destination statistics

Busiest domestic routes from Mid-Ohio Valley Airport
(July 2024 – June 2025)[19]
Rank City Passengers
1 Charlotte, North Carolina 3,520
2 Beckley, West Virginia 600

Accidents

  • On 15 March 1945, a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan crashed while attempting to land at the unfinished airport, killing the seven occupants.[20]
  • On 4 May 1950, a two-seat Air Force airplane crashed while landing at the airport, killing the pilot.[21]
  • In February 1959, a single-engine Cessna crashed near the airport, killing the pilot.[22]
  • On 13 March 1968, a Dassault Mystère 20 operated by Mead Paper Company overran the runway, struck trees, crashed into a ravine and caught fire after it attempted to land on an icy runway at the airport, killing the two pilots and four passengers.[23]
  • On 24 February 1974, a twin-engine Beechcraft crashed due to engine failure while attempting to land at the airport, killing the pilot and three passengers.[24]
  • On 12 August 1977, a twin-engine Beechcraft crashed while attempting to land at the airport, killing the two pilots and two passengers.[25]
  • On 18 October 2022, a Beechcraft E90 King Air crashed while preparing to land at the airport, killing the two occupants.[26]

See also

References

Notes

  1. "FAA Airport Form 5010 for PKB" (PDF). FAA. . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 10, 2023.
  2. "IATA Airport Code Search (PKB: Parkersburg / Wood County)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  3. "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009.
  4. "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011.
  5. "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  6. "Parkersburg-Wood County Airport Dedicated Sunday". Hinton Daily News. UP. 9 September 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  7. "Through the Exchanges". Hinton Daily News. 7 November 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  8. Stebbins, Clair C. (26 August 1951). "Runways Shorter But Wood County Airport is Similar to Zanesville's". Sunday Times Signal. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  9. "Wood County Airport to Be Rededicated". Beckley Post-Herald and Raleigh Register. AP. 2 May 1965. p. 15. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  10. "Parkersburg Airport has New Name". Charleston Daily Mail. AP. 3 June 1965. p. 5. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  11. "Grant Approved for Airport". Weirton Daily Times. UPI. 25 February 1974. p. 7. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  12. "Wood Airport Receives Grant". Raleigh Register. 25 June 1975. p. 17. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  13. Brust, Pamela (19 February 2004). "Plenty of Changes at Local Airport". Parkersburg News. p. 9D. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  14. Bevins, Evan (5 April 2017). "Partnership Eyes Guard Building at Airport". Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  15. Dunlap, Brett (10 March 2023). "Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Heads Meet with Wood County Commission". Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  16. Marshall, Megan (4 August 2025). "Air Wisconsin 'Would Be a Step Backwards', Says MOV Regional Airport Manager". WTAP. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  17. "Contour adds two new seasonal routes". Airline Geeks. 4 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  18. "Route Map". Contour Airlines. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  19. "RITA | BTS | Transtats". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. May 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  20. "7 Die in Crash of Army Training Plane". Hinton Daily News. UP. 15 March 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  21. "Dies as Relatives Await His Return". Hinton Daily News. UP. 5 May 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  22. "Finding of Wrecked Plane Ends Search Centered Here". Zanesville Signal. 21 February 1959. p. 6-A. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  23. "6 Die as Plane Goes Off Strip at Parkersburg". Charleston Daily Mail. Associated Press. 13 March 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  24. "Wood Crash Kills Four". Raleigh Register. UPI. 26 February 1974. p. 13. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  25. "Four Killed in Light Plane Crash". Beckley Post-Herald and Raleigh Register. United Press International. 14 August 1977. p. 2. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  26. Bevins, Evan (11 November 2022). "Preliminary Report Released in Marietta Plane Crash". Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved 17 April 2026.

Bibliography

  • Essential Air Service documents (Docket DOT-OST-2005-20734) from the U.S. Department of Transportation:
    • Notice (March 22, 2005): of Air Midwest, Inc. of its intent to discontinue scheduled non-subsidized Essential Air Service between Parkersburg, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, effective June 20, 2005.
    • Order 2005-4-19 (April 19, 2005): prohibiting Air Midwest, Inc., from terminating its unsubsidized, scheduled air service at Parkersburg, Morgantown and Clarksburg/Fairmont, West Virginia, beyond the end of its 90-day notice periods, and requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing replacement essential air service (EAS) at the communities, with or without subsidy.
    • Order 2005-9-8 (September 9, 2005): selecting RegionsAir, Inc. to provide subsidized essential air Service (EAS) at Parkersburg, Morgantown and Clarksburg/Fairmont, West Virginia for a two-year period and establishing a combined subsidy rate of $1,051,333 per year for service consisting of 18 nonstop round trips each week between Parkersburg and Cincinnati, and 18 round trips to Cincinnati each week over a MGW-CKB-CVG-CKB-MGW routing, with 34-seat Saab 340A aircraft.
    • Order 2007-1-16 (January 25, 2007): selecting Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a US Airways Express to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at Parkersburg, Morgantown, and Clarksburg/Fairmont, West Virginia, for two years, beginning when the carrier inaugurates service. Each community will receive 19 weekly round trips to Pittsburgh with 34-passenger Saab 340 aircraft. Service from Parkersburg will be nonstop in each direction. Service from Morgantown and Clarksburg/Fairmont will be served with a Pittsburgh - Morgantown - Clarksburg - Pittsburgh or a Pittsburgh - Clarksburg - Morgantown - Pittsburgh routing. The total combined annual subsidy is $2,421,914.
    • Ninety-Day Notice (March 28, 2008): of intent of Colgan Air Inc. D/B/A United Express to terminate scheduled essential air service at Parkersburg, Morgantown and Clarksburg/Fairmont, WV, effective June 28, 2008.
    • Order 2008-5-37 (May 27, 2008): re-selecting Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a United Express, to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at Morgantown and Clarksburg/Fairmont, West Virginia, at a total annual subsidy rate of $2,116,650, for the two-year period of June 1, 2008, through May 31, 2010, requesting proposals, with or without subsidy, by June 18 from carriers interested in providing EAS at Parkersburg, West Virginia, for a new two-year period, beginning when the carrier inaugurates full service, and setting a final rate for an interim period for Colgan's service at Parkersburg, West Virginia, in order for the carrier to be compensated, from June 1, 2008, until further Department action, pending the completion of the carrier-selection case.
    • Order 2008-7-22 (July 17, 2008): re-selecting Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a United Express to provide subsidized essential air service at Parkersburg, West Virginia, at an annual subsidy rate of $2,190,281, for the period of August 1, 2008, through July 31, 2010.
    • Order 2010-6-25 (June 29, 2010): re-selecting Colgan Air, Inc. to provide essential air service (EAS) at Clarksburg/Fairmont and Morgantown, WV, for a combined annual subsidy of $2,976,438, and at Beckley, WV, for an annual subsidy of $2,313, 457, for the two-year period from August 1, 2010, through July 31, 2012. Also selecting Gulfstream International Airlines, Inc., to provide EAS at Parkersburg, WV/Marietta, OH, at an annual subsidy rate of $2,642,237, for a two-year period beginning when the carrier inaugurates full EAS through the end of the 24th month thereafter. The total annual subsidy for all four communities is $7,923,132.
    • Order 2012-9-23 (September 27, 2012): selecting Silver Airways to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) at Bradford, DuBois, Franklin/Oil City, Pennsylvania, Jamestown, New York, and Parkersburg, West Virginia/Marietta, Ohio, for a combined annual subsidy of $10,348,117 ($1,940,272 for Bradford; $2,587,029 for DuBois, $1,293,515 for Franklin, $1,940,272 for Jamestown, and $2,587,029 for Parkersburg), from October 1, 2012, through September 30, 2014.
    • Notice of Intent (February 14, 2014): of Silver Airways Corp. to discontinue scheduled air service between Cleveland, Ohio (CLE) and: Jamestown, New York (JHW), Bradford, Pennsylvania (BFD), DuBois, Pennsylvania (DUJ), Franklin/Oil City, Pennsylvania (FKL), and Parkersburg, West Virginia/Marietta, Ohio (PKB).