# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-013

**Citation:** P-74-013  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1974-02-20  
**Published:** 1974-02-20

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY: INSTRUCT THE MAINTENANCE CREWS CONCERNING THE HAZARDS OF INADEQUATE SUPPORT DURING THE FILLING OF RECENTLY EXCAVATED PIPING FACILITIES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-013.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY: INSTRUCT THE MAINTENANCE CREWS CONCERNING THE HAZARDS OF INADEQUATE SUPPORT DURING THE FILLING OF RECENTLY EXCAVATED PIPING FACILITIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1974-02-20

Adopted Date: 1974-02-13

Overall Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Synopsis: ON APRIL 22, 1973, A VIOLENT EXPLOSION DESTROYED 7 OF 15 UNITS IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN EL PASO, TEXAS. SEVEN PERSONS WERE KILLED, AND EIGHT PERSONS WERE HOSPITALIZED, TWO OF WHOM WERE CRITICALLY INJURED.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR007

Report Number: PAR-74-02

Addressee Name: Southern Union Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1975-01-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY LTR: WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THOSE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED. WE HAVE REEMPHASIZED THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR COMPLIANCE ON THE PART OF OUR PERSONNEL. 1/17/75 - IN TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, SOUTHERN UNION STATED THAT ALL MAINTENANCE CREWS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED AS RECOMMENDED

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-74-013>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `db1c7839d782f99709c973bc8fc1c566f97a62d4a1c0eb23aa089ff1c8b87efc`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T18:16:13.953Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-74-013`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-74-013",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD73XR007",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-74-02",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD73XR007.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P74_10_15.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Southern Union Gas Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1975-01-09",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY LTR: WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THOSE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED. WE HAVE REEMPHASIZED THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR COMPLIANCE ON THE PART OF OUR PERSONNEL. 1/17/75 - IN TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, SOUTHERN UNION STATED THAT ALL MAINTENANCE CREWS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED AS RECOMMENDED"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```