# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-003

**Citation:** P-74-003  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1974-02-07  
**Published:** 1974-02-07

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF THE BOROUGH OF COOPERSBURG, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, AND THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS: INITIATE MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND MORE CONTROLLING INSPECTION PROCEDURES ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO INSURE THAT ALL WORK IS PERFORMED SAFELY AND CORRECTLY AS DETAILED IN CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, PARTICULARLY WHERE BLASTING 

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF THE BOROUGH OF COOPERSBURG, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, AND THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS: INITIATE MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND MORE CONTROLLING INSPECTION PROCEDURES ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO INSURE THAT ALL WORK IS PERFORMED SAFELY AND CORRECTLY AS DETAILED IN CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, PARTICULARLY WHERE BLASTING IS INVOLVED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1974-02-07

Adopted Date: 1974-02-07

Overall Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Synopsis: IN COOPERSBURG, PA., ON FEBRUARY 21, 1973, A GAS PIPELINE WAS RUPTURED BY DYNAMITE AND GAS AT 50 PSIG ENTERED AN APARTMENT HOUSE AND EXPLODED. FIVE PERSONS WERE KILLED, 16 PERSONS WERE INJURED, AND 2 BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR003

Report Number: PAR-74-01

Addressee Name: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Borough of Coopersburg, Municipal Authority

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-04-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-74-003>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `839799074277a0b4970ece268f43387c5b85309bd3ed56b36d66210d1a402d6a`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T05:56:08.036Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-74-003`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-74-003",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD73XR003",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-04-01",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-74-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD73XR003.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P74_1_9.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Borough of Coopersburg, Municipal Authority",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-04-01",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-04-01",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```