Smith Mountain Lake traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Smith Mountain Lake (W91) is 1,900 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and every runway end is standard left traffic. · Open on the map

All of Smith Mountain Lake — 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 W91 reports it.

RWY 23LEFT traffic

Heading: 234° mag · 225° true
Dimensions: 3,058 × 50 ft
TPA: 1,900 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Asphalt
CTAF: 122.975

Enter the left downwind (heading 054°) on the 45° at 1,900 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).

More details — RWY 23

Threshold elev: 892 ft
Markings: nonstandard
Approach obstacle: Tree, 23 ft, 238 ft from threshold, 122 ft L of centerline — 1:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
TDZ elevation: 892 ft

Condition: Fair. Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 3k, Double wheel 3k, Dual tandem 3k, Double dual tandem 3k.

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
05	Left traffic	054° mag	1,900 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
23	Left traffic	234° mag	1,900 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for W91; 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 W91

Smith Mountain Lake is non towered, so the pattern is self announced on CTAF 122.975. 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 W91?

Smith Mountain Lake 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 1,900 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 W91 have right traffic?

No. All 2 runway ends at Smith Mountain Lake use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

What frequency is the pattern on at W91?

Smith Mountain Lake is non towered, so pattern position reports go on the CTAF, 122.975. AC 90-66B asks for self announcing on entry and on each leg.

More about W91

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.

Something here wrong or out of date? Report a data problem.