# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-081

**Citation:** P-78-081  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-12-29  
**Published:** 1978-12-29

REQUIRE MUNICIPALITIES TO INCORPORATE THE AMENDED STATE "UNDERGROUND FACILITY SAFETY AND DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT" IN THE SPECIFICATIONS OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WHICH USE LARGE EXCAVATING EQUIPMENT AND DURING WHICH GAS PIPELINE FACILITIES WILL BE CROSSED, AND REQUIRE THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAVE THE SPECIFICATIONS WITH THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS AT THE JOB SITE FOR READY REFERENCE BY THE WORKERS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-081.

REQUIRE MUNICIPALITIES TO INCORPORATE THE AMENDED STATE "UNDERGROUND FACILITY SAFETY AND DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT" IN THE SPECIFICATIONS OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WHICH USE LARGE EXCAVATING EQUIPMENT AND DURING WHICH GAS PIPELINE FACILITIES WILL BE CROSSED, AND REQUIRE THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAVE THE SPECIFICATIONS WITH THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS AT THE JOB SITE FOR READY REFERENCE BY THE WORKERS.

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-78-081>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `5f7bbeae872fa4eaa337d7fb4ca2b1869fd041386fbedbeeb99cbb686c9c68b4`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T16:52:58.617Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-081`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-081",
  "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"
}
```