Pierce County-Thun Field traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Pierce County-Thun Field (PLU · KPLU) is 1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and every runway end is standard left traffic.

All of Pierce County-Thun Field — runways, frequencies, charts and live weather

Pattern diagram

Drawn to scale from the FAA NASR runway alignments and the per end right traffic flags — pick a runway to see its pattern. Live wind picks the favored runway when KPLU reports it.

RWY 17LEFT traffic

Heading: 166° mag · 181° true
Dimensions: 3,651 × 60 ft
TPA: 1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Asphalt
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (4°)
CTAF: 122.7

Enter the left downwind (heading 346°) on the 45° at 1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).

More details — RWY 17

Threshold elev: 537 ft
Markings: nonprecision
Approach obstacle: Trees, 75 ft, 2,800 ft from threshold — 34:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height: 53 ft
TDZ elevation: 538 ft
End lights: REIL

Condition: Good. Edge lights: Med.

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
17	Left traffic	165° mag	1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35	Left traffic	345° mag	1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KPLU; the figure above is the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention for propeller aircraft, rounded to the field. Turbine aircraft normally fly 1,500 ft AGL. Headings are the runway alignment; downwind is the reciprocal.

Flying the pattern at KPLU

Pierce County-Thun Field is non towered, so the pattern is self announced on CTAF 122.7. AC 90-66B asks for a report on entry and on each leg, and for the standard 45° entry to downwind at pattern altitude.

All ends are left traffic, which is the FAR 91.126 default — turns to the left unless the field charts otherwise. The full entry procedure is here →

Frequently asked

What is the traffic pattern altitude at KPLU?

Pierce County-Thun Field has no traffic pattern altitude published in the FAA NASR data. The AC 90-66B convention for propeller aircraft is 1,000 ft AGL, which works out to roughly 1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) here — but confirm it against the Chart Supplement before you fly, since a field can have a non standard pattern altitude that NASR does not carry.

Does KPLU have right traffic?

No. All 2 runway ends at Pierce County-Thun Field use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

What frequency is the pattern on at KPLU?

Pierce County-Thun Field is non towered, so pattern position reports go on the CTAF, 122.7. AC 90-66B asks for self announcing on entry and on each leg.

More about KPLU

Pattern direction and alignment are drawn from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle); the diagram is generated, not an FAA chart. Pattern altitude is shown as published where NASR carries one, otherwise as the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention. For planning and education only; always verify against the Chart Supplement.