# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-080

**Citation:** P-78-080  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-12-29  
**Published:** 1978-12-29

AMEND STATE LAW TO SPECIFY THE USE OF HAND-EXCAVATED TEST HOLES, OR OTHER PROVEN, ACCURATE METHOD, TO ESTABLISH A PRECISE DEPTH OR LOCATION OF THE UNDERGROUND FACILITY, AND TO ESTABLISH A WIDE BUFFER ZONE BESIDE A PIPELINE LOCATION, OVER WHICH HEAVY EQUIPMENT CANNOT OPERATE, TO ALLOW FOR ERRORS IN ESTABLISHING THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF UNDER-GROUND FACILITIES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-080.

AMEND STATE LAW TO SPECIFY THE USE OF HAND-EXCAVATED TEST HOLES, OR OTHER PROVEN, ACCURATE METHOD, TO ESTABLISH A PRECISE DEPTH OR LOCATION OF THE UNDERGROUND FACILITY, AND TO ESTABLISH A WIDE BUFFER ZONE BESIDE A PIPELINE LOCATION, OVER WHICH HEAVY EQUIPMENT CANNOT OPERATE, TO ALLOW FOR ERRORS IN ESTABLISHING THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF UNDER-GROUND FACILITIES.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-12-29

Adopted Date: 1978-12-07

Overall Date Closed: 1987-08-19

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: State of Missouri

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1987-08-19

Addressee Acronym: MO

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1987-08-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NO RESPONSE--FOLLOWUP LETTER.

Addressee Acronym: MO

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1987-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: MO

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: MO

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1987-08-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-080>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `2945f574b6567daf9d41557b41b3c53ea53b09469c130f9380cd917b8d9bd7b5`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T01:21:16.325Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-080`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-080",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP020",
  "priority": "CLASS III",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1987-08-19",
  "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_80_81.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "State of Missouri",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CUA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1987-08-19",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "MO",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "S-State Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1987-08-19",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "NO RESPONSE--FOLLOWUP LETTER."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "MO",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "S-State Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1987-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "MO",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "S-State Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-05",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "MO",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "S-State Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1987-08-19",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```