# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-045

**Citation:** P-73-045  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1973-08-24  
**Published:** 1973-08-24

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ATLANTIC GAS LIGHT COMPANY: TAKE WHATEVER REMEDIAL ACTION IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS. THIS ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE SECTIONS OF CAST-IRON MAIN SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-045.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ATLANTIC GAS LIGHT COMPANY: TAKE WHATEVER REMEDIAL ACTION IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS. THIS ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE SECTIONS OF CAST-IRON MAIN SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-08-24

Adopted Date: 1973-08-16

Overall Date Closed: 1976-07-20

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: Atlanta Gas Light Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Addressee Acronym: AGL

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1974-07-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY: AGL HAS FOR YEARS EVALUATED ITS EXISTING CAST-IRON SYSTEM AND WHEREVER FEASIBLE THE CAST-IRON MAIN HAS BEEN ABANDONED. FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS ALL LEAKS HAVE BEEN PLOTTED ON A MAP TO DETERMINE IF ANY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS HAVE MORE LEAKS THAN OTHERS. (CORROSION OR CAST-IRON BREAKS.) REPAIR RECORDS ARE MAINTAINED AND, IF A PATTERN OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS IS EVIDENT, THE MAIN IS REPLACED. RECORDS WILL BE REVIEWED TO INSURE THAT ANY MAINS WHICH INDICATE ABNORMAL LEAKAGE WILL BE REPLACED.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-73-045>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `39f1e7448b37f0b305028d420b94ec2cfd9f4d8016eaf91870ffe9dfc18144c8`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T12:02:18.698Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-045`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-045",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD72XR005",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1976-07-20",
  "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": "Atlanta Gas Light Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1976-07-20",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGL",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1974-07-12",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY: AGL HAS FOR YEARS EVALUATED ITS EXISTING CAST-IRON SYSTEM AND WHEREVER FEASIBLE THE CAST-IRON MAIN HAS BEEN ABANDONED. FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS ALL LEAKS HAVE BEEN PLOTTED ON A MAP TO DETERMINE IF ANY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS HAVE MORE LEAKS THAN OTHERS. (CORROSION OR CAST-IRON BREAKS.) REPAIR RECORDS ARE MAINTAINED AND, IF A PATTERN OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS IS EVIDENT, THE MAIN IS REPLACED. RECORDS WILL BE REVIEWED TO INSURE THAT ANY MAINS WHICH INDICATE ABNORMAL LEAKAGE WILL BE REPLACED."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```