# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-022

**Citation:** P-76-022  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1976-06-14  
**Published:** 1976-06-14

EXAMINE ITS LEAK RECORDS INVOLVING PIPE SEAM FAILURES TO DETERMINE WHETHER OTHER SECTIONS OF ITS SYSTEM MAY BE INADEQUATE, AND RETEST THESE AREAS HYDROSTATICALLY. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-022.

EXAMINE ITS LEAK RECORDS INVOLVING PIPE SEAM FAILURES TO DETERMINE WHETHER OTHER SECTIONS OF ITS SYSTEM MAY BE INADEQUATE, AND RETEST THESE AREAS HYDROSTATICALLY. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-06-14

Adopted Date: 1976-05-21

Overall Date Closed: 1986-12-03

Synopsis: ON FEBRUARY 25, 1976, A MID-AMERICA PIPE LINE SYSTEM 8-INCH LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS PIPELINE RUPTURED NEAR WHITHARRAL, TEXAS. THE ESCAPING LPG VAPORIZED, FORMED A LOW-LYING CLOUD, AND IGNITED. THE OCCUPANTS OF TWO DWELLINGS IN THE AREA WERE BURNED SEVERELY, AND FIVE WERE KILLED.

Probable Cause: Investigation showed that the longitudinal seam of the 8 inch pipe had split. The 8 1/2-foot -long split was located on the side of the pipe at the 9:00 position. The pipe was manufactured by Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation in 1960.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76FP016

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Mid-America Pipeline System

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-12-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-12-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP AND THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PAST CORRESPONDENCE. MID-AMERICA'S RESPONSE OF JUNE 15, 1976. NTSB'S FOLLOWUP LETTER OF JULY 30, 1976.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-12-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-76-022>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `af9f9fa50ce987be8bbcbed0551edf420aa462813d2b478b9e1c8c3bb9c094eb`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T18:16:53.186Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-76-022`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-76-022",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA76FP016",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1986-12-03",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P76_22_25.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Mid-America Pipeline System",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1986-12-03",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1986-12-03",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP AND THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PAST CORRESPONDENCE.  MID-AMERICA'S RESPONSE OF JUNE 15, 1976.  NTSB'S FOLLOWUP LETTER OF JULY 30, 1976."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1986-12-03",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```