Payson, Arizona · field elev 5,160 ft
Density Altitude at Payson (KPAN)
Payson is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,160 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (93 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,394 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,234 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41.0 | 5,206 ft | 56.1 | 6,181 ft ▲ |
| February | 43.1 | 5,343 ft | 58.5 | 6,333 ft ▲ |
| March | 48.4 | 5,688 ft | 65.1 | 6,745 ft ▲ |
| April | 53.8 | 6,035 ft | 71.6 | 7,146 ft ▲ |
| May | 61.4 | 6,515 ft | 80.0 | 7,655 ft ▲ |
| June | 70.5 | 7,079 ft | 90.2 | 8,259 ft ⚠ |
| July | 76.0 | 7,414 ft | 92.5 | 8,394 ft ⚠ |
| August | 74.8 | 7,341 ft | 90.5 | 8,277 ft ⚠ |
| September | 68.9 | 6,980 ft | 85.9 | 8,006 ft ⚠ |
| October | 58.3 | 6,320 ft | 75.9 | 7,408 ft ▲ |
| November | 47.7 | 5,643 ft | 64.3 | 6,696 ft ▲ |
| December | 40.2 | 5,153 ft | 54.9 | 6,105 ft ▲ |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for KPAN
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,160 ft — the air behaves like 8,423 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,162 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby Arizona fields
- KSEZ — Sedona
Sedona · elev 4,831 ft
- P52 — Cottonwood
Cottonwood · elev 3,560 ft
- Z95 — Cibecue
Cibecue · elev 5,037 ft
- KSDL — Scottsdale
Scottsdale · elev 1,510 ft
- KDVT — Phoenix Deer Valley
Phoenix · elev 1,478 ft
- KFFZ — Falcon Field
Mesa · elev 1,394 ft
- KINW — Winslow-Lindbergh Regional
Winslow · elev 4,941 ft
- KFLG — Flagstaff Pulliam
Flagstaff · elev 7,015 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KPAN in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 93 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Payson reaches roughly 8,394 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at KPAN on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,153 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,414 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,160 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Payson?
5,160 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KPAN (ICAO) / PAN (FAA), in Payson, Arizona.