# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-076

**Citation:** P-78-076  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-12-29  
**Published:** 1978-12-29

PROTECT PIPELINES TO BE CROSSED DURING CONSTRUCTION BY VERIFYING THE LOCATION, ELEVATION, AND DIMENSIONS OF ALL KNOWN OR SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND OBSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF THE WORK AND BY REVIEWING ALL REQUIREMENTS IN THE SPECIFICATIONS WITH ITS FIELD SUPERVISOR.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-076.

PROTECT PIPELINES TO BE CROSSED DURING CONSTRUCTION BY VERIFYING THE LOCATION, ELEVATION, AND DIMENSIONS OF ALL KNOWN OR SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND OBSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF THE WORK AND BY REVIEWING ALL REQUIREMENTS IN THE SPECIFICATIONS WITH ITS FIELD SUPERVISOR.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-12-29

Adopted Date: 1978-12-07

Overall Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Synopsis: ON JUNE 12, 1978, A 10-INCH NATURAL GAS PIPELINE OWNED BY THE GAS SERVICE COMPANY WAS STRUCK AND RUPTURED BY EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWER IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THE NATURAL GAS ESCAPED FROM A 5-INCH-LONG HOLE IN THE PIPELINE. THE GAS IGNITED WHILE TWO GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE CLEANING THE PIPE WITH HAND TOOLS BEFORE INSTALLING A PIPE REPAIR CLAMP. BOTH MEN WERE BURNED SERIOUSLY.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP020

Report Number: PAR-78-05

Addressee Name: Torson Construction Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-04-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-076>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `c1af3a8e4c74e7d304ba046e18383643628253e756beef2a3e16cd8bd3c8b31f`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T06:25:25.094Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-076`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-076",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP020",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-04-01",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-78-05",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA78MP020.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P78_76_78.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Torson Construction Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-04-01",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-04-01",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```