# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-048

**Citation:** P-73-048  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1973-11-13  
**Published:** 1973-11-13

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: UNDERTAKE RULEMAKING CONCERNING METHODS OF HANDLING, CONTAINING, AND DISPOSING OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES INVOLVED IN PIPELINE FAILURES. THIS RULEMAKING SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SUCH EXTERNAL FACTORS AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, LEAK SITE TOPOGRAPHY, AND POPULATION DENSITY.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-048.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: UNDERTAKE RULEMAKING CONCERNING METHODS OF HANDLING, CONTAINING, AND DISPOSING OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES INVOLVED IN PIPELINE FAILURES. THIS RULEMAKING SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SUCH EXTERNAL FACTORS AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, LEAK SITE TOPOGRAPHY, AND POPULATION DENSITY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-11-13

Adopted Date: 1973-11-07

Overall Date Closed: 1990-01-04

Synopsis: ON FEBRUARY 22, 1973, NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS LEAKED FROM A RUPTURED 10-INCH PIPELINE AT A PUMP STATION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, FLOWED INTO DITCHES ALONGSIDE A ROAD ADJACENT TO THE STATION, AND VAPORIZED. A DODGE VAN DROVE INTO THE VAPOR-RICH ZONE AND STALLED. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE VAPOR IGNITED, AND THE DRIVER AND SEVEN PASSENGERS WERE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SIX OF THESE PERSONS DIED AND TWO WERE CRITICALLY BURNED.

Keywords: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR005

Report Number: PAR-73-04

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1990-01-04

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-01-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1989-05-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-73-048>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `696576ed9def581492fa7cc1d4e3a68c035c835df45591199e078cd0ca8b77e6`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T03:13:40.024Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-048`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-048",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD73XR005",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1990-01-04",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2023-08-30",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-73-04",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD73XR005.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P73_47_54.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "RSPA",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1990-01-04",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1990-01-04",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1989-05-31",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```