# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-037

**Citation:** P-73-037  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1973-08-24  
**Published:** 1973-08-24

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: IMPROVE THE ACCIDENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES OF FAILURES OF CAST-IRON MAINS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: IMPROVE THE ACCIDENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES OF FAILURES OF CAST-IRON MAINS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-08-24

Adopted Date: 1973-08-16

Overall Date Closed: 1986-11-14

Synopsis: A GAS EXPLOSION OCCURRED ON AUGUST 31, 1972 IN THE ANNEX BUILDING OF AN ATLANTA, GA., HIGH SCHOOL. GAS HAD LEAKED INTO THE BUILDING FROM A CRACKED CAST-IRON MAIN LOCATED BENEATH THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE ANNEX. ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY (AGL) PERSONNEL ARRIVED AT THE LEAK SITE APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER AGL WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE LEAK AND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. ONE PERSON DIED AND SEVEN OTHERS WERE INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR005

Report Number: PAR-73-03

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-11-14

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-04-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 10/16/73-LTR FROM DOT: PROGRAMS PRESENTLY BEING CARRIED OUT BY OPS RELATE IN VARYING DEGREES TO EACH OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE REPORTING FORM AND ITS INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSSIBLE REVISION. 4/3/78 - OPSO LTR IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/4/77 LETTER REQUESTING FURTHER INFORMATION ON ONGOING REVIEW OF REPORTING FORMS: A RECENTLY COMPLETED OPSO STUDY ANALYZED REPORTING PROCEDURES AND WAS USED TO DEVELOP AN NPRM FOR NEW REPORTING FORMS. 6/5/78 - NPRM ON LEAK REPORTING FORMS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1977-11-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1983-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-73-037>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `be0207985089998b7d90ea3bb84606b4abcc15326eae4ed67e13a8115164e913`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T11:51:15.252Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-037`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-037",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD72XR005",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1986-11-14",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-73-03",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD72XR005.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P73_37_46.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "RSPA",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CUA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1986-11-14",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1978-04-03",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "10/16/73-LTR FROM DOT: PROGRAMS PRESENTLY BEING CARRIED OUT BY OPS RELATE IN VARYING DEGREES TO EACH OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE REPORTING FORM AND ITS INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSSIBLE REVISION. 4/3/78 - OPSO LTR IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/4/77 LETTER REQUESTING FURTHER INFORMATION ON ONGOING REVIEW OF REPORTING FORMS: A RECENTLY COMPLETED OPSO STUDY ANALYZED REPORTING PROCEDURES AND WAS USED TO DEVELOP AN NPRM FOR NEW REPORTING FORMS. 6/5/78 - NPRM ON LEAK REPORTING FORMS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1977-11-04",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1983-03-21",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```