# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-026

**Citation:** P-74-026  
**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: TRAIN AND EQUIP ALL APPROPRIATE RADIO-EQUIPPED FIELD PERSONNEL (INCLUDING ELECTRIC SERVICEMEN) TO LOCATE AND OPERATE MAIN LINE VALVES IN EMERGENCIES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: TRAIN AND EQUIP ALL APPROPRIATE RADIO-EQUIPPED FIELD PERSONNEL (INCLUDING ELECTRIC SERVICEMEN) TO LOCATE AND OPERATE MAIN LINE VALVES IN EMERGENCIES.

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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: PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING EMERGENCY VALVES ARE DISCUSSED AT THE COMPANY'S MONTHLY SAFETY MEETINGS. ALL OF THE GAS AND WATER OPERATING PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED TO LOCATE AND OPERATE MAIN LINE VALVES IN EMERGENCIES. IN TOWNS WHERE WE OPERATE BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, OUR ELECTRIC STAFF IS PRESENT AT THE MONTHLY SAFETY MEETINGS AND RECEIVES THE SAME INFORMATION. WE WOULD NOT HESITATE IN SENDING AN ELECTRIC SERVICEMAN TO OPERATE A VALVE IN AN EMERGENCY.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-74-026>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `d47677c53979e004faa16f50db37e40196f21c9bedf7c31fdd39c66fb5a3057c`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T21:43:31.381Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-74-026`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-74-026",
  "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: PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING EMERGENCY VALVES ARE DISCUSSED AT THE COMPANY'S MONTHLY SAFETY MEETINGS. ALL OF THE GAS AND WATER OPERATING PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED TO LOCATE AND OPERATE MAIN LINE VALVES IN EMERGENCIES. IN TOWNS WHERE WE OPERATE BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, OUR ELECTRIC STAFF IS PRESENT AT THE MONTHLY SAFETY MEETINGS AND RECEIVES THE SAME INFORMATION. WE WOULD NOT HESITATE IN SENDING AN ELECTRIC SERVICEMAN TO OPERATE A VALVE IN AN EMERGENCY."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```