# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-77-020

**Citation:** P-77-020  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1977-08-16  
**Published:** 1977-08-16

IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO PATROL ITS GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AS FREQUENTLY AS NECESSARY WHILE THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR GAS MAIN FAILURE DUE TO SETTLEMENT. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-77-020.

IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO PATROL ITS GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AS FREQUENTLY AS NECESSARY WHILE THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR GAS MAIN FAILURE DUE TO SETTLEMENT. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1977-08-16

Adopted Date: 1977-08-15

Overall Date Closed: 1977-11-23

Synopsis: ON JULY 30, 1977, A LOW-ORDER EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY FIRE DESTROYED A HOUSE IN CHEROKEE, ALABAMA. ONE PERSON IN THE HOUSE SUFFERED THIRD-DEGREE BURNS, WAS HOSPITALIZED, AND DIED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA77FP028

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: State of Alabama, City of Cherokee, Water and Gas Board

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1977-11-23

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1977-09-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CITY OF CHEROKEE LTR: UPON OUR FIRST INSTRUCTIONS TO MONITOR THE GAS SYSTEM CLOSELY TO CHECK FOR LEAKS, WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED OBSERVING THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS SINCE THAT TIME. WE DECIDED TO PUT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ODORANT INTO THE SYSTEM.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-77-020>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `45f57cf7b6d4c834cc9ccc63552b865c6ee578a77c1aaad493edea408d4c4396`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T18:20:27.140Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-77-020`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-77-020",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA77FP028",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1977-11-23",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P77_18_20.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "State of Alabama, City of Cherokee, Water and Gas Board",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1977-11-23",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1977-09-07",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "CITY OF CHEROKEE LTR: UPON OUR FIRST INSTRUCTIONS TO MONITOR THE GAS SYSTEM CLOSELY TO CHECK FOR LEAKS, WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED OBSERVING THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS SINCE THAT TIME. WE DECIDED TO PUT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ODORANT INTO THE SYSTEM."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```