Sparta, Illinois · field elev 538 ft
Density Altitude at Sparta Community-Hunter Field (KSAR)
Sparta Community-Hunter Field sits at 538 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (88 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,502 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.9 | −1,224 ft | 40.1 | −585 ft |
| February | 35.2 | −924 ft | 45.1 | −244 ft |
| March | 44.3 | −299 ft | 55.5 | 452 ft |
| April | 55.0 | 419 ft | 66.8 | 1,189 ft |
| May | 64.9 | 1,066 ft | 75.7 | 1,756 ft |
| June | 73.3 | 1,604 ft | 84.3 | 2,293 ft |
| July | 76.7 | 1,819 ft | 87.7 | 2,502 ft |
| August | 75.2 | 1,724 ft | 86.8 | 2,447 ft |
| September | 68.1 | 1,272 ft | 80.8 | 2,075 ft |
| October | 57.0 | 551 ft | 69.9 | 1,388 ft |
| November | 45.2 | −237 ft | 55.8 | 472 ft |
| December | 35.0 | −938 ft | 44.0 | −319 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 KSAR
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 538 ft — the air behaves like 2,520 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 539 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 Illinois fields
- KPJY — Pinckneyville/Du Quoin
Pinckneyville · elev 400 ft
- KBLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica St Louis
Belleville · elev 459 ft
- KMDH — Southern Illinois
Carbondale/Murphysboro · elev 411 ft
- KCPS — St Louis Downtown
Cahokia/St Louis · elev 413 ft
- KENL — Centralia Municipal
Centralia · elev 534 ft
- H96 — Benton Municipal
Benton · elev 444 ft
- H07 — Highland-Winet
Highland · elev 537 ft
- KMWA — Veterans Airport Of Southern Illinois
Marion · elev 472 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KSAR in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 88 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Sparta Community-Hunter Field reaches roughly 2,502 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 KSAR on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,224 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,819 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 538 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Sparta Community-Hunter Field?
538 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSAR (ICAO) / SAR (FAA), in Sparta, Illinois.