# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-79-004

**Citation:** P-79-004  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1979-05-15  
**Published:** 1979-05-15

EMPHASIZE TO ITS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREFUL, THOROUGH INSPECTION TO MINIMIZE THE OCCURRENCE OF DENTS AND GOUGES WHICH COULD RESULT IN SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-79-004.

EMPHASIZE TO ITS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREFUL, THOROUGH INSPECTION TO MINIMIZE THE OCCURRENCE OF DENTS AND GOUGES WHICH COULD RESULT IN SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1979-05-15

Adopted Date: 1979-05-03

Overall Date Closed: 1984-05-24

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 4, 1978, PROPANE THAT HAD VAPORIZED AND SPREAD WIDELY FROM A RUPTURED 8-INCH LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS PIPELINE OWNED BY THE MID-AMERICA PIPELINE SYSTEM WAS IGNITED BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE IN A RURAL AREA NEAR DONNELLSON, IOWA. THE INTENSE FIRE KILLED TWO PERSONS AND CRITICALLY BURNED THREE OTHERS; ONE OF THE CRITICALLY BURNED PERSONS LATER DIED. A FARMHOUSE AND SIX OUTBUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED, AND TWO ADJACENT HOMES WE DAMAGED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP021

Report Number: PAR-79-01

Addressee Name: Mid-America Pipeline System

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1984-05-24

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1984-05-24

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-79-004>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `f63e76efd1cbef5347a50b0f38ab5dbcefdf06f6e0be4cf80da45fadaddf02ba`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T08:19:59.352Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-79-004`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-79-004",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP021",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1984-05-24",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-79-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA78MP021.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P79_2_5.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Mid-America Pipeline System",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1984-05-24",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-20",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1984-05-24",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```