# NTSB ATL91LA071: Beech F33A, N7224L, Chamblee, GA, March 26, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1991, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Chamblee, GA
- Location: 33.8760° N, 84.3020° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DEKALB-PEACHTREE (PDK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8760&lon=-84.3020&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8387/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA071

## Probable cause

THE HOLE IN THE AIRPORT TAXIWAY, WHICH WAS CREATED BY THE EROSION OF SOIL BENEATH THE TAXIWAY, AND THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPORT TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN DITCHES WHICH RUN BENEATH THE RUNWAYS AND TAXIWAYS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ditch (cause)
  - other airport/runway maintenance - not performed, airport personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAXI TO TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT LANDING GEAR SANK INTO A HOLE IN THE TAXIWAY.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DIRT COVERING A STORM DRAINAGE PIPE BENEATH THE TAXIWAY HAD ERODED, LEAVING A VOID OF APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET IN DIAMETER AND 12 FEET IN DEPTH.  THE LANDING GEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT PUNCTURED THE ASPHALT COVERING THE HOLE AND SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7224L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7224L), registered now, S/N CE-1057, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F33A
- Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CE1057
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: United Cleaning Specialist
- Registered owner: United Cleaning Specialist
- Destination: CUB, COLUMBIA, SC
- Airport: PDK, Peachtree-Dekalb

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,719 total, 700 in this make and model, 1,536 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: PDK, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910326007669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910326007669A), Mar 26, 1991: Beech F33A, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. While taxiing for takeoff pavement gave away. Wheel fell thru deep hole. Pavement undermined by broken drain pipe.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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