# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-004

**Citation:** P-78-004  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-02-08  
**Published:** 1978-02-08

INSTALL A METER AT THE HESTINGS EXTRACTION PLANT ON THE INLET TO THE PROPANE PIPELINE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH LIQUID IS ENTERING THE PIPELINE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-004.

INSTALL A METER AT THE HESTINGS EXTRACTION PLANT ON THE INLET TO THE PROPANE PIPELINE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH LIQUID IS ENTERING THE PIPELINE.

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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: A 2" ROTARY METER THAT MEASURES PRODUCT INPUT IN THE PIPELINE HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE PUMPS AT THE HASTINGS EXTRACTION PLANT. THE SIGNAL FROM THE METER IS TRANSMITTED TO AND DISPLAYED ON AN ODOMETER IN THE CONTROL HOUSE AT HASTINGS EXTRACTION PLANT.

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-78-004>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `4fea172e767a45acf85b091714bbbdc44a3b7684fb4ba931b8322da841f2d266`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T10:56:06.899Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-004`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-004",
  "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: A 2\" ROTARY METER THAT MEASURES PRODUCT INPUT IN THE PIPELINE HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE PUMPS AT THE HASTINGS EXTRACTION PLANT. THE SIGNAL FROM THE METER IS TRANSMITTED TO AND DISPLAYED ON AN ODOMETER IN THE CONTROL HOUSE AT HASTINGS EXTRACTION PLANT."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1978-09-29",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```