# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-005

**Citation:** P-74-005  
**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: INSURE THAT ANY UTILITY COMPANY AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION HAVE A PREPLANNED EMERGENCY PROCEDURE WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD BY ALL PARTIES AND WHICH CAN BE CARRIED OUT EXPEDITIOUSLY.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-005.

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: INSURE THAT ANY UTILITY COMPANY AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION HAVE A PREPLANNED EMERGENCY PROCEDURE WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD BY ALL PARTIES AND WHICH CAN BE CARRIED OUT EXPEDITIOUSLY.

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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-74-005>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `118bfdcb92449615e05ed4a589341c5101ddbfb938ed76ac44be7c2fe7a3ea9f`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T09:53:32.916Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-74-005`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-74-005",
  "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"
}
```