# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-024

**Citation:** P-74-024  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1974-03-11  
**Published:** 1974-03-11

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS. THIS ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE SECTIONS OF CAST-IRON MAIN SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-024.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS. THIS ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE SECTIONS OF CAST-IRON MAIN SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1974-03-11

Adopted Date: 1974-02-27

Overall Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Synopsis: A gas explosion and fire occurred on December 9, 1972, in downtown Clinton, MO. Gas had leaked into a building from a cracked cast-iron main located behind the building. Missouri Public Service Company personnel arrived at the site of the reported leak 50 minutes before the explosion. Eight persons died, and seven others were injured.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR004

Report Number: PAR-74-03

Addressee Name: Missouri Public Service Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1975-02-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: THE COMPANY HAS TAKEN NO REMEDIAL ACTION BECAUSE IT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ANY SECTIONS OF CAST IRON MAIN WHICH ARE PRESENTLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. WHEN AND IF SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS GAINED, THE COMPANY, IN LINE WITH ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. 3/12/75 - ANOTHER LETTER FROM MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: PLEASE SUBSTITUTE THE FOLLOWING; THE COMPANY HAS REVIEWED ITS GAS SYSTEM MAPS, ITS LEAK SURVEY RECORDS, AND ITS CORROSION CONTROL RECORDS AND PRESENTLY HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ANY SECTIONS OF CAST IRON MAIN WHICH ARE PRESENTLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. THESE RECORDS ARE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY AND WHEN AND IF SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS GAINED, THE COMPANY, IN LINE WITH ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-74-024>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `ddba45b86b94e6441454993dfeaccff432553a64050a948e4977796f7bf9442f`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T18:51:35.882Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-74-024`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-74-024",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD73XR004",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-74-03",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD73XR004.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P74_16_27.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Missouri Public Service Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1975-02-25",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: THE COMPANY HAS TAKEN NO REMEDIAL ACTION BECAUSE IT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ANY SECTIONS OF CAST IRON MAIN WHICH ARE PRESENTLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. WHEN AND IF SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS GAINED, THE COMPANY, IN LINE WITH ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. 3/12/75 - ANOTHER LETTER FROM MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: PLEASE SUBSTITUTE THE FOLLOWING; THE COMPANY HAS REVIEWED ITS GAS SYSTEM MAPS, ITS LEAK SURVEY RECORDS, AND ITS CORROSION CONTROL RECORDS AND PRESENTLY HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ANY SECTIONS OF CAST IRON MAIN WHICH ARE PRESENTLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. THESE RECORDS ARE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY AND WHEN AND IF SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS GAINED, THE COMPANY, IN LINE WITH ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```