Vaughn, New Mexico · field elev 5,936 ft

Density Altitude at Vaughn Municipal (N17)

Vaughn Municipal is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,936 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (88 °F) pushes density altitude to about 9,091 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,155 ft above the field before the wheels roll.

worst typical month: July · ≈9,091 ft station: PEDERNAL 9 E · 16 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at PEDERNAL 9 E (16 mi from the field) · standard pressure, dry air
Month Avg temp °F DA at avg temp Afternoon high °F DA on a typical afternoon
January 32.0 5,568 ft 46.0 6,488 ft ▲
February 36.4 5,861 ft 51.5 6,840 ft ▲
March 42.9 6,287 ft 60.0 7,376 ft ▲
April 49.7 6,725 ft 67.4 7,834 ft ▲
May 58.9 7,307 ft 76.4 8,380 ft ⚠
June 69.0 7,932 ft 87.0 9,009 ft ⚠
July 72.3 8,133 ft 88.4 9,091 ft ⚠
August 70.3 8,011 ft 85.9 8,944 ft ⚠
September 63.7 7,606 ft 80.1 8,601 ft ⚠
October 52.4 6,898 ft 69.2 7,944 ft ▲
November 41.1 6,170 ft 57.0 7,188 ft ▲
December 32.3 5,588 ft 46.3 6,507 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 N17

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 9,068 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 9,068 ft high DA

Field elevation 5,936 ft — the air behaves like 9,068 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
5,938 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 New Mexico fields

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at N17 in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 88 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Vaughn Municipal reaches roughly 9,091 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 N17 on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,568 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 8,133 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,936 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Vaughn Municipal?

5,936 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is N17 (FAA), in Vaughn, New Mexico.