# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-002

**Citation:** P-78-002  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-02-08  
**Published:** 1978-02-08

TEST PIPE FOR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING USING A NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING METHOD SUCH AS THE MAGNETIC PARTICLE-INSPECTION METHOD OR OTHER SUITABLE TECHNIQUE EVERY TIME THE PIPELINE IS EXPOSED FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-002.

TEST PIPE FOR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING USING A NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING METHOD SUCH AS THE MAGNETIC PARTICLE-INSPECTION METHOD OR OTHER SUITABLE TECHNIQUE EVERY TIME THE PIPELINE IS EXPOSED FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-02-08

Adopted Date: 1978-01-12

Overall Date Closed: 1978-09-29

Synopsis: ON JULY 20, 1977, A 12-INCH PROPANE PIPELINE, OWNED BY THE CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORPORATION, RUPTURED NEAR THE TOWN OF RUFF CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA. THE LIQUID ESCAPED FROM THE PIPELINE, VAPORIZED, AND PROPANE VAPORS SETTLED LIKE A FOG OVER THE BOTTOM OF A VALLEY. TWO MEN IN A PICKUP TRUCK ENTERED THE PROPANE CLOUD; THE TRUCK STALLED AND THE PROPANE GAS IGNITED WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTART THE TRUCK. THE 2 PERSONS IN THE TRUCK WERE KILLED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA77MP027

Report Number: PAR-78-01

Addressee Name: Consolidated Gas Transmission Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-09-29

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORP. LTR: CONSOLIDATED GAS HAS DEVELOPED OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TO BE ISSUED SOON. THEY INCLUDE INSPECTION FOR STRESS CORROSION CRACKING--THE PIPE IN LPG PIPELINE G-136 SHALL BE TESTED FOR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING USING THE MAGNETIC PARTICLE-INSPECTION METHOD EVERYTIME THE PIPELINE IS EXPOSED FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-09-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-002>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `bbe27145eb66572d4afc97c624a096304261f747d63a1b2bcd65c8b2691f7ef5`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T06:38:37.759Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-002`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-002",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA77MP027",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1978-09-29",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-78-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA77MP027.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P78_1_8.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Consolidated Gas Transmission Corporation",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1978-09-29",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1978-07-17",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORP. LTR: CONSOLIDATED GAS HAS DEVELOPED OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TO BE ISSUED SOON. THEY INCLUDE INSPECTION FOR STRESS CORROSION CRACKING--THE PIPE IN LPG PIPELINE G-136 SHALL BE TESTED FOR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING USING THE MAGNETIC PARTICLE-INSPECTION METHOD EVERYTIME THE PIPELINE IS EXPOSED FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1978-09-29",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```