# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-004

**Citation:** P-74-004  
**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; CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE AND DETAILED PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS FOR ALL PROJECTS TO EXPLAIN THE FULL SCOPE, TIMING, AND CRITICAL OR HAZARDOUS ELEMENTS INVOLVED. AT THESE MEETINGS, THE CONTRACTOR AND THE AFFECTED UTILITY COMPANIES SHOULD BE 

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-004.

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; CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE AND DETAILED PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS FOR ALL PROJECTS TO EXPLAIN THE FULL SCOPE, TIMING, AND CRITICAL OR HAZARDOUS ELEMENTS INVOLVED. AT THESE MEETINGS, THE CONTRACTOR AND THE AFFECTED UTILITY COMPANIES SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH ANY GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE JOBSITE.

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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-74-004>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `9fea304db202c32d6aa687c9d9cd923486cab4921f4b2921c5aa75262747cd74`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T00:18:40.149Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-74-004`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-74-004",
  "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"
}
```