# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-009

**Citation:** P-78-009  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-02-08  
**Published:** 1978-02-08

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU OF THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: EXPEDITE THE PUBLISHING OF THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON REGULATIONS FOR THE SAFE TRANSPORTATION BY PIPELINES OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES (LPG). INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE SECTION ON THE COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF LPG PIPELINES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-009.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU OF THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: EXPEDITE THE PUBLISHING OF THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON REGULATIONS FOR THE SAFE TRANSPORTATION BY PIPELINES OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES (LPG). INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE SECTION ON THE COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF LPG PIPELINES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-02-08

Adopted Date: 1978-01-12

Overall Date Closed: 1980-06-03

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: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1980-06-03

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-09-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: MTB LTR: MTB PUBLISHED A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON AUGUST 10, 1978, WHICH INCORPORATED THE INTENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS P-78-9 AND P-78-10. 7/16/79 - FEDERAL REGISTER, FINAL RULE, NPRM PUBLISHED AUGUST 10, 1978: THE NPRM WAS PUBLISHED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE RECOMMENDA TION. THE PROPOSED RULES INCLUDE SECTION 195.408 "COMMUNICATIONS", WHICH IS COMPREHENSIVE IN NATURE.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-06-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-009>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `79063dbc0211c143833cdda4ee04e99cfa392cf638b60c57fc27d1cffc2727b9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T00:27:55.512Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-009`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-009",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA77MP027",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1980-06-03",
  "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_9_11.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "RSPA",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1980-06-03",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1978-09-12",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "MTB LTR:  MTB PUBLISHED A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON AUGUST 10, 1978, WHICH INCORPORATED THE INTENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS P-78-9 AND P-78-10.  7/16/79 - FEDERAL REGISTER, FINAL RULE, NPRM PUBLISHED AUGUST 10, 1978: THE NPRM WAS PUBLISHED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE RECOMMENDA TION.  THE PROPOSED RULES INCLUDE SECTION 195.408 \"COMMUNICATIONS\", WHICH IS COMPREHENSIVE IN NATURE."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1980-06-03",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```