# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-004

**Citation:** P-76-004  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1976-02-04  
**Published:** 1976-02-04

CONDUCT TESTS BELOW THE FROST LEVEL DURING THIS REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM TO MONITOR ALL PLASTIC PIPE JOINTS MADE WITH SHORT COMPRESSION COUPLINGS WHERE PULLOUT AND RESULTANT GAS LEAKS COULD OCCUR. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-004.

CONDUCT TESTS BELOW THE FROST LEVEL DURING THIS REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM TO MONITOR ALL PLASTIC PIPE JOINTS MADE WITH SHORT COMPRESSION COUPLINGS WHERE PULLOUT AND RESULTANT GAS LEAKS COULD OCCUR. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-02-04

Adopted Date: 1976-02-04

Overall Date Closed: 1986-09-22

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 10, 1976, GAS WHICH WAS LEAKING INTO THE PATHFINDER HOTEL IN FREMONT, NEBRASKA, IGNITED. THE HOTEL EXPLODED AND FIRE ENSUED; THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE HOTEL, DAMAGED NEARBY BUILDINGS, AND BROKE WINDOWS WITHIN A ONE-BLOCK RADIUS. THIRTY-NINE PERSONS WERE INJURED AND 20 PERSONS WERE KILLED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76MP013

Report Number: PAR-76-06

Addressee Name: Nebraska Natural Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-09-22

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-09-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP AND THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE: COPY OF NOTES OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN STAFF AND COMPANY ON 5/22/78. COMPANY'S 5/22/78 LETTER DESCRIBING ACTIONS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS. OTHER PERTINENT CORRESPONDENCE WHICH RELATES TO ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED FOLLOWING THE COMPLETED INVESTIGATION INCLUDE: THE COMPANY'S 6/19/80 LETTER RESPONDING TO P-76-49 THROUGH -55. NTSB'S 8/12/80 LETTER CLOSING P-76-49 THROUGH 55.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-09-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-76-004>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `7ac849277c30e7a2e0121e1dddf1d69df44a2509e1b174aa1354d7019aaad2fb`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T22:31:37.167Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-76-004`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-76-004",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA76MP013",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1986-09-22",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-76-06",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA76MP013.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P76_3_4.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Nebraska Natural Gas Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1986-09-22",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1986-09-22",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP AND THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE:  COPY OF NOTES OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN STAFF AND COMPANY ON 5/22/78. COMPANY'S 5/22/78 LETTER DESCRIBING ACTIONS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS.  OTHER PERTINENT CORRESPONDENCE WHICH RELATES TO ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED FOLLOWING THE COMPLETED INVESTIGATION INCLUDE:  THE COMPANY'S 6/19/80 LETTER RESPONDING TO P-76-49 THROUGH -55. NTSB'S 8/12/80 LETTER CLOSING P-76-49 THROUGH 55."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1986-09-22",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```