Cordova, Alaska · field elev 53 ft
Density Altitude at Merle K (Mudhole) Smith (PACV)
Merle K (Mudhole) Smith sits at 53 ft, and even a typical August afternoon (62 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 274 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 | 26.4 | −2,150 ft | 33.7 | −1,634 ft |
| February | 29.1 | −1,958 ft | 36.7 | −1,425 ft |
| March | 30.8 | −1,838 ft | 39.1 | −1,258 ft |
| April | 38.1 | −1,327 ft | 46.5 | −752 ft |
| May | 45.5 | −820 ft | 54.1 | −241 ft |
| June | 51.4 | −421 ft | 59.4 | 110 ft |
| July | 54.6 | −208 ft | 61.6 | 254 ft |
| August | 54.1 | −241 ft | 61.9 | 274 ft |
| September | 48.4 | −623 ft | 56.4 | −88 ft |
| October | 40.1 | −1,189 ft | 47.5 | −684 ft |
| November | 31.6 | −1,781 ft | 38.4 | −1,307 ft |
| December | 28.9 | −1,972 ft | 35.3 | −1,522 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 PACV
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 53 ft — the air behaves like 280 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 54 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 Alaska fields
- CKU — Cordova Municipal
Cordova · elev 59 ft
- K55 — Thompson Pass
Valdez · elev 2,080 ft
- PAKA — Tatitlek
Tatitlek · elev 62 ft
- PAVD — Valdez Pioneer Field
Valdez · elev 128 ft
- PAMD — Middleton Island
Middleton Island · elev 100 ft
- PAAX — Chitina
Chitina · elev 556 ft
- PFCB — Chenega Bay
Chenega · elev 69 ft
- Z93 — Copper Center 2
Copper Center · elev 1,150 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at PACV in summer?
On a typical August afternoon — around 62 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Merle K (Mudhole) Smith reaches roughly 274 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 PACV on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −2,150 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about −208 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 53 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Merle K (Mudhole) Smith?
53 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is PACV (ICAO) / CDV (FAA), in Cordova, Alaska.