# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-078

**Citation:** P-76-078  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1976-10-27  
**Published:** 1976-10-27

PROTECT THE 20-INCH AND 24-INCH PIPELINES FROM FUTURE EXCAVATION DAMAGE BEFORE REOPENING GRIFFIN ROAD. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-078.

PROTECT THE 20-INCH AND 24-INCH PIPELINES FROM FUTURE EXCAVATION DAMAGE BEFORE REOPENING GRIFFIN ROAD. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-10-27

Adopted Date: 1976-10-06

Overall Date Closed: 1983-03-08

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 9, 1976, A ROAD GRADER RUPTURED A LOOPED, 20-INCH, NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION LINE IN CARTWRIGHT, LOUISIANA. GAS ESCAPED IN SEVERAL DIRECTIONS FROM THE LINE'S TWO STREAMS AND IGNITED WITHIN SECONDS. THE RESULTING FLAME ENGULFED THE AREA, KILLED SIX RESIDENTS, INJURED ONE PERSON, AND INCINERATED TWO HOUSES, A HOUSE TRAILER, AND SEVERAL ACRES OF LAND.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76MP025

Report Number: PAR-77-01

Addressee Name: United Gas Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-03-08

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1977-04-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 4/14/77 - TELEPHONE CALL TO UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY CONFIRMS THAT UNITED HAS COMPLIED OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLYING WITH ALL THREE RECOMMENDATIONS. HOWEVER, UNITED HAS A $15 MILLION LAW SUIT IN PROGRESS AND DOES NOT WANT TO DRAFT A LETTER STATING COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME. THEY WILL DO SO AFTER THE LAW SUIT IS FINISHED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-01-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY LETTER: IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AUGUST 9, 1976, PIPELINE RUPTURE, UNITED REPLACED THE DAMAGED PIPELINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH AGENCY ENFORCES THE PIPELINE SAFETY ACT OF 1968. IN ADDITION, REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE PROTECTORS WERE INSTALLED AT THE POINTS WHERE GRIFFIN ROAD CROSSES THE 20-INCH AND 24-INCH PIPELINES. THE PROTECTION IS OVER AND ABOVE THAT REQUIRED BY ANY APPLICABLE GOVERNMENTAL SAFETY STANDARD.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-03-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-76-078>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `e3ab2b06c29e2d477aef9f4e36ad2da23f34cccc5f9935c277db5289a14f4e34`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T02:36:30.845Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-76-078`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-76-078",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA76MP025",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-03-08",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-77-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA76MP025.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P76_78_80.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "United Gas Pipeline Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-03-08",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1977-04-14",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "4/14/77 - TELEPHONE CALL TO UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY CONFIRMS THAT UNITED HAS COMPLIED OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLYING WITH ALL THREE RECOMMENDATIONS. HOWEVER, UNITED HAS A $15 MILLION LAW SUIT IN PROGRESS AND DOES NOT WANT TO DRAFT A LETTER STATING COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME. THEY WILL DO SO AFTER THE LAW SUIT IS FINISHED."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1983-01-18",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY LETTER:  IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AUGUST 9, 1976, PIPELINE RUPTURE, UNITED REPLACED THE DAMAGED PIPELINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH AGENCY ENFORCES THE PIPELINE SAFETY ACT OF 1968.  IN ADDITION, REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE PROTECTORS WERE INSTALLED AT THE POINTS WHERE GRIFFIN ROAD CROSSES THE 20-INCH AND 24-INCH PIPELINES.  THE PROTECTION IS OVER AND ABOVE THAT REQUIRED BY ANY APPLICABLE GOVERNMENTAL SAFETY STANDARD."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-03-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-05",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```