Narrative:

An inoperative wind tetrahedron was uninstalled from east midfield and placed on the ground on the north ramp area. There is no NOTAM or other indication that the tetrahedron is unable to move. I am concerned that in a low visibility condition, a transient pilot may attempt to land downwind (there is no ATIS, ASOS etc on the field) with tragic results. Airport management has been notified of this concern. No action has been taken as of 12/sat/01. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: instructor indicates that there are four windsocks installed at the airport. None of them appear to work with less than 20 KTS of wind. A wind tetrahedron was removed from the midfield area and is now sitting on the ground near the northwest corner of runway 19. Since it's sitting on the ground it is incapable of indicating wind direction. It is, however in plane view of landing aircraft. Someone has placed an american flag on top of the rotating beacon. All local pilots know to use this flag as the only reliable way to tell wind direction. Reporter thinks the wind socks should be fixed to respond correctly to light winds and the wind tetrahedron installation be completed. Having to ignore 'official' wind indicating devices, and use an unofficial flag is asking for trouble.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C-172 ISTR RPTS A WIND TETRAHEDRON PLACED REAR THE NW END OF RWY 19 IS SITTING ON THE GND AND IS INCAPABLE OF TELLING WIND DIRECTION.

Narrative: AN INOPERATIVE WIND TETRAHEDRON WAS UNINSTALLED FROM E MIDFIELD AND PLACED ON THE GND ON THE N RAMP AREA. THERE IS NO NOTAM OR OTHER INDICATION THAT THE TETRAHEDRON IS UNABLE TO MOVE. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN A LOW VISIBILITY CONDITION, A TRANSIENT PLT MAY ATTEMPT TO LAND DOWNWIND (THERE IS NO ATIS, ASOS ETC ON THE FIELD) WITH TRAGIC RESULTS. ARPT MGMNT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS CONCERN. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS OF 12/SAT/01. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: INSTRUCTOR INDICATES THAT THERE ARE FOUR WINDSOCKS INSTALLED AT THE ARPT. NONE OF THEM APPEAR TO WORK WITH LESS THAN 20 KTS OF WIND. A WIND TETRAHEDRON WAS REMOVED FROM THE MIDFIELD AREA AND IS NOW SITTING ON THE GND NEAR THE NW CORNER OF RWY 19. SINCE IT'S SITTING ON THE GND IT IS INCAPABLE OF INDICATING WIND DIRECTION. IT IS, HOWEVER IN PLANE VIEW OF LNDG ACFT. SOMEONE HAS PLACED AN AMERICAN FLAG ON TOP OF THE ROTATING BEACON. ALL LOCAL PLTS KNOW TO USE THIS FLAG AS THE ONLY RELIABLE WAY TO TELL WIND DIRECTION. RPTR THINKS THE WIND SOCKS SHOULD BE FIXED TO RESPOND CORRECTLY TO LIGHT WINDS AND THE WIND TETRAHEDRON INSTALLATION BE COMPLETED. HAVING TO IGNORE 'OFFICIAL' WIND INDICATING DEVICES, AND USE AN UNOFFICIAL FLAG IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.