Formerly a military base, DeKalb–Peachtree Airport came under control of the DeKalb County government in 1960 for use as a civil airport.
The County government told the FAA they would "take action to restrict the use of land adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of the airport to activities and purposes compatible with normal airport operations including landing and take-off of aircraft."
However, in the summer of 1962, ten years before the accident, a sanitary landfill site was opened in the vicinity of the airport.
The NTSB report suggests birds were regularly attracted to the landfill site.

In 1970, the FAA contacted the County government and alerted them to the potential risk of a bird strike at the airport. "
In February 1971, the FAA was advised by the County that the dump would be closed by August 1972," as stated in the NTSB accident report.
However, the landfill site was not closed in 1972, and remained open at the time of the accident.
Investigators concluded it was likely the dump was a factor in the accident: "There is little doubt that the municipal dump located adjacent to the airport property attracts birds which are a serious hazard to aircraft."

Furthermore, the NTSB concluded the FAA had not intervened to take action with regards to the dump. "
In following up on the compliance requirements for airports developed or improved with Federal funds, the FAA did not take adequate measures, in accordance with existing statues, to assure that the hazard was removed from the vicinity of the airport."
The NTSB was reportedly "concerned because responsible authorities had not taken due cognizance of the bird hazards to aircraft at the DeKalb–Peachtree Airport."
The final report stated,
Many airports are confronted with perennial or seasonal bird problems, and all such airports should employ methods to minimize the hazard.
Public and private studies have shown that the elimination of food and water sources in the vicinity of airports is the most effective means of combating the bird hazard.
Open garbage dumps attract birds, and the location of these facilities around airports is not compatible with normal airport operations.
Formerly a military base, DeKalb–Peachtree Airport came under control of the DeKalb County government in 1960 for use as a civil airport. The County government told the FAA they would "take action to restrict the use of land adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of the airport to activities and purposes compatible with normal airport operations including landing and take-off of aircraft." However, in the summer of 1962, ten years before the accident, a sanitary landfill site was opened in the vicinity of the airport. The NTSB report suggests birds were regularly attracted to the landfill site.
In 1970, the FAA contacted the County government and alerted them to the potential risk of a bird strike at the airport. "In February 1971, the FAA was advised by the County that the dump would be closed by August 1972," as stated in the NTSB accident report. However, the landfill site was not closed in 1972, and remained open at the time of the accident. Investigators concluded it was likely the dump was a factor in the accident: "There is little doubt that the municipal dump located adjacent to the airport property attracts birds which are a serious hazard to aircraft."
Furthermore, the NTSB concluded the FAA had not intervened to take action with regards to the dump. "In following up on the compliance requirements for airports developed or improved with Federal funds, the FAA did not take adequate measures, in accordance with existing statues, to assure that the hazard was removed from the vicinity of the airport." The NTSB was reportedly "concerned because responsible authorities had not taken due cognizance of the bird hazards to aircraft at the DeKalb–Peachtree Airport." The final report stated,
Many airports are confronted with perennial or seasonal bird problems, and all such airports should employ methods to minimize the hazard. Public and private studies have shown that the elimination of food and water sources in the vicinity of airports is the most effective means of combating the bird hazard. Open garbage dumps attract birds, and the location of these facilities around airports is not compatible with normal airport operations.
1973 DeKalb–Peachtree Airport Learjet crash