# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-053

**Citation:** P-73-053  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1973-11-13  
**Published:** 1973-11-13

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: INSTRUCT ITS PIPELINE MAINTENANCE CREW ON THE IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF PROPER POSITIONING OF WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF STRESS CONCENTRATION ON THE CARRIER PIPE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-053.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: INSTRUCT ITS PIPELINE MAINTENANCE CREW ON THE IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF PROPER POSITIONING OF WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF STRESS CONCENTRATION ON THE CARRIER PIPE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-11-13

Adopted Date: 1973-11-07

Overall Date Closed: 1976-07-20

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.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR005

Report Number: PAR-73-04

Addressee Name: Phillips Petroleum Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1974-08-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: MAINTENANCE CREWS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED ON THE IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF PROPER POSITIONING OF WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REVISION IN THE MAINTENANCE OPERATING MANUAL.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-73-053>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `0806289dfe1d7fdb7c21bee0a0556c05cf66aea64ff9546bb655e77eae5c3067`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T19:15:31.182Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-053`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-053",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD73XR005",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1976-07-20",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "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": "Phillips Petroleum Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1976-07-20",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1974-08-28",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: MAINTENANCE CREWS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED ON THE IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF PROPER POSITIONING OF WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REVISION IN THE MAINTENANCE OPERATING MANUAL."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```