1973 — Feb 26, Lear jet hits birds on takeoff, crashes ~Peachtree-Dekalb AP ~Atlanta, GA-7

–8 Bird Strike Committee-USA. “Significant Bird and other Wildlife Strikes.”
–7 AP. “Investigators Sift Through Plane Debris.” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 2-27-1973, 7.
–7 Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Learjet 24 crash, 26 February 1973.
–7 NTSB. AAR. Machinery Buyers Corporation Learjet…Atlanta, Georgia, Feb 26, 1973. P.1.
–6 AP. “6 Killed as Jet Brushes Building.” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 2-26-1973, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Bird Strike Committee-USA: “On departure from Atlanta, Georgia’s Peachtree-Dekalb Airport, a Lear 24 jet struck a flock of brown-headed cowbirds attracted to a nearby trash transfer station. Engine failure resulted. The aircraft crashed, killing 8 people and seriously injuring 1 person on the ground. This incident prompted the FAA to develop guidelines concerning the location of solid waste disposal facilities on or near airports.” (Bird Strike Committee-USA. “Significant Bird and other Wildlife Strikes.”)

NTSB Abstract: “A Gates Learjet Model 24, N454RN, operated by the Machinery Buyers Corp., crashed at 1012 e.st.t on Feb 26, 1973, after takeoff from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. The two crewmembers and five passengers were fatally injured, one person on the ground sustained burns.

“The airplane departed from Runway 20L on a flight plan to Miami, Florida. Witnesses observed smoke trailing from the airplane as it crossed the field boundary. The tower controller advised the crew of N454RN that the airplane’s left engine appeared to be emitting smoke; the crew of N454RN responded that they had ‘hit some birds.’ The controller inquired whether N454RN was returning to land, and N454RN responded ‘Don’t believe we’re gonna make it.’

“After the crash the remains of 15 cowbirds were found within 150 feet of the Runway 2R threshold. A municipal dump is located adjacent to the airport just east of Runway 2R/20L.

“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of engine thrust during takeoff due to ingestion of birds by the engines, resulting in loss of control of the airplane.

“The Federal Aviation Administration and the Airport Authority were aware of the bird hazard at the airport; however, contrary to previous commitments, the airport management did not take positive action to remove the bird hazard from the airport environment.” (National Transportation Safety Board. Aircraft Accident Report. Machinery Buyers Corporation Learjet Model 24, N4554RN, Atlanta, Georgia, February 26, 1973. Washington, DC: NTSB, adopted 5-30-1973.)

Newspapers

Feb 26: “Atlanta, Ga. (AP) – Six persons were killed today when an executive jet brushed the top of an apartment building and crashed into nearby woods shortly after the pilot told the control tower he had struck some birds ‘and I don’t think I can make it.’….The crash happened seconds after the pilot had told the control tower at Peachtree-Dekalb airport in neighboring Dekalb County that the plane had struck some birds….One witness said he looked up at the time of the crash and saw one motor on the two-engine Lear jet burning. The witness said the plane flew right over the top of his car….

“The plane, en route to Miami, was registered to Triton Development Co., Houston, Tex., and its flight plan said fiver persons were aboard. However, firemen at the scene said six bodies were removed from the wreckage. There were no reports of injuries in the apartment building.” (Associated Press, Atlanta. “6 Killed as Jet Brushes Building.” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 2-26-1973, p. 1.)

Feb 27: “Atlanta, Ga. (AP) – A team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board is sifting through the burned out debris today of an executive jet that crashed seconds after takeoff near Atlanta and left seven persons dead. Witnesses said one of the two engines of the Lear jet was afire as the aircraft skimmed the top of an apartment building, spewing burning fuel over the parking lot and crashed into a gully about 500 yards from an elementary school.

“The dead were identified as David E. Phillips, 27, of Jonesboro, Ga., the pilot; Ernest S. Sellfors, 31, of College Park, Ga.’ The copilot; Judson R. Draper Jr., 40, Marietta, Ga.; David Michael Howard, 29, of Atlanta; Leonard Nicholson, 30, of Covington, Ga., all employees or officers of the Machinery Buyers Corp. of Atlanta; and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Forbes Miree of Birmingham, Ala. The DeKalb County coroner’s office said Miree, 36, operated Miree Aircraft and Marine Sales in Birmingham.

“Another man, Bill Fields, 25, of Greensboro, N.C., was severely burned as he stood in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Authorities said some of the burning fuel fell on him. His condition at an Atlanta hospital was reported as critical.

“The FAA said the aircraft, owned by the Machinery Buyers Corp. was en route to Miami, Fla.

“Although the exact cause of the crash has not been determined, another pilot who landed near the airport from which the jet had taken off said the airfield had attracted a flock of birds.” (AP. “Investigators Sift Through Plane Debris.” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 2-27-1973, 7.)

Sources

Associated Press, Atlanta. “6 Killed as Jet Brushes Building.” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 2-26-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-12-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-times-enterprise-feb-26-1973-p-1/

Associated Press. “Investigators Sift Through Plane Debris.” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 2-27-1973, 7. Accessed 1-12-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-times-enterprise-feb-27-1973-p-7/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Learjet 24 crash, 26 February 1973. Accessed 1-12-2022 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19730226-0

Bird Strike Committee-USA. “Significant Bird and other Wildlife Strikes.” Accessed 1-15-2009 at: http://www.birdstrike.org/commlink/signif.htm

National Transportation Safety Board. Aircraft Accident Report. Machinery Buyers Corporation Learjet Model 24, N4554RN, Atlanta, Georgia, February 26, 1973. Washington, DC: NTSB, adopted 5-30-1973. Accessed 1-12-2022 at: https://web.archive.org/web/20110104044615/http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR73-12.pdf