# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-064

**Citation:** P-76-064  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1976-08-11  
**Published:** 1976-08-11

PROTECT THE MANHOLE OF AND PIPING CONNECTIONS TO ALL LPG TANKS WHICH MAY BE DAMAGED BY VEHICLES. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-064.

PROTECT THE MANHOLE OF AND PIPING CONNECTIONS TO ALL LPG TANKS WHICH MAY BE DAMAGED BY VEHICLES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-08-11

Adopted Date: 1976-07-22

Overall Date Closed: 1982-11-18

Synopsis: ON MARCH 23, 1976, A 1,000-GALLON LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS TANK OWNED BY LEHIGH UTILITIES, INC., RUPTURED IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD OF LEHIGH ACRES, FLORIDA. LIQUID AND VAPORS ESCAPED FROM THE RUPTURES. THE ESCAPING LIQUID VAPORIZED, FORMED A WHITE, FOG-LIKE CLOUD NEAR THE GROUND, AND IGNITED. THE ENSUING FIRE AND EXPLOSION KILLED ONE PERSON, DESTROYED ONE TRUCK, AND DAMAGED ANOTHER.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76FP018

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Lehigh Utilities, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-11-18

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COPY OF AN UNDATED LETTER ALLEGEDLY SENT BY LEHIGH UTILITIES IN AUGUST 1976: I HAVE ENCLOSED A COPY OF THE LETTER SENT TO MR. TODD IN AUGUST 1976, REGARDING THE ACTION WE HAD TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO YOUR DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AFTER WE HAD INSTALLED THE BARRICADES, MR. LATTA COOK, PIPELINE SAFETY COORDINATOR, CAME TO LEHIGH AND INSPECTED THEM. AUGUST 1976 LETTER: IN REPLY TO YOUR LETTER OF AUGUST 14, 1976, LEHIGH UTILITIES, INC., HAS COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION OF BARRICADES AT ALL OF OUR L.P. TANK SITES THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO A POTENTIAL HAZARD.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-11-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-76-064>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `01a8e9d2bbccccd5c043b38e9d6fb92b00a7256f5c3965e74377737278232835`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T14:07:08.472Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-76-064`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-76-064",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA76FP018",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1982-11-18",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P76_63_64.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Lehigh Utilities, Inc.",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1982-11-18",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-12",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "COPY OF AN UNDATED LETTER ALLEGEDLY SENT BY LEHIGH UTILITIES IN AUGUST 1976:  I HAVE ENCLOSED A COPY OF THE LETTER SENT TO MR. TODD IN AUGUST 1976, REGARDING THE ACTION WE HAD TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO YOUR DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AFTER WE HAD INSTALLED THE BARRICADES, MR. LATTA COOK, PIPELINE SAFETY COORDINATOR, CAME TO LEHIGH AND INSPECTED THEM. AUGUST 1976 LETTER:  IN REPLY TO YOUR LETTER OF AUGUST 14, 1976, LEHIGH UTILITIES, INC., HAS COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION OF BARRICADES AT ALL OF OUR L.P. TANK SITES THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO A POTENTIAL HAZARD."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-11-18",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```