Safford, Arizona · field elev 3,178 ft
Density Altitude at Safford Regional/1lt Duane Spalsbury Field (KSAD)
From a field elevation of 3,178 ft, a typical June afternoon at Safford Regional/1lt Duane Spalsbury Field (101 °F) raises density altitude to about 6,492 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47.1 | 3,159 ft | 60.5 | 4,029 ft |
| February | 51.2 | 3,428 ft | 65.8 | 4,365 ft |
| March | 57.6 | 3,843 ft | 73.3 | 4,834 ft |
| April | 64.8 | 4,302 ft | 81.7 | 5,350 ft ▲ |
| May | 73.6 | 4,853 ft | 91.1 | 5,915 ft ▲ |
| June | 83.4 | 5,453 ft | 100.9 | 6,492 ft ▲ |
| July | 85.9 | 5,604 ft | 100.1 | 6,445 ft ▲ |
| August | 84.6 | 5,525 ft | 97.9 | 6,316 ft ▲ |
| September | 78.9 | 5,179 ft | 92.8 | 6,016 ft ▲ |
| October | 67.5 | 4,472 ft | 82.8 | 5,416 ft ▲ |
| November | 55.6 | 3,714 ft | 70.1 | 4,635 ft |
| December | 46.6 | 3,126 ft | 59.7 | 3,978 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 KSAD
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 3,178 ft — the air behaves like 6,497 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 3,180 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
- E37 — Flying J Ranch
Pima · elev 3,114 ft
- KCFT — Greenlee County
Clifton/Morenci · elev 3,798 ft
- P33 — Cochise County
Willcox · elev 4,187 ft
- E77 — San Manuel
San Manuel · elev 3,272 ft
- P13 — San Carlos Apache
Globe · elev 3,261 ft
- E24 — Whiteriver
Whiteriver · elev 5,153 ft
- E95 — Benson Municipal/Paul Kerchum Field
Benson · elev 3,831 ft
- E67 — Kearny
Kearny · elev 1,833 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KSAD in summer?
On a typical June afternoon — around 101 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Safford Regional/1lt Duane Spalsbury Field reaches roughly 6,492 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 KSAD on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 3,126 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 5,604 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3,178 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Safford Regional/1lt Duane Spalsbury Field?
3,178 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSAD (ICAO) / SAD (FAA), in Safford, Arizona.