# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-007

**Citation:** P-80-007  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1980-02-26  
**Published:** 1980-02-26

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT: EXAMINE LOCATIONS WHERE DITCH-CLEANING AND ROAD-GRADING ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR PIPELINE MARKERS AND NOTIFY OPERATORS AT LEAST 2 WORKING DAYS BEFORE EXCAVATION IS BEGUN TO PERMIT ACCURATE MARKING OF THE FACILITY'S LOCATION AND DEPTH.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-007.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT: EXAMINE LOCATIONS WHERE DITCH-CLEANING AND ROAD-GRADING ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR PIPELINE MARKERS AND NOTIFY OPERATORS AT LEAST 2 WORKING DAYS BEFORE EXCAVATION IS BEGUN TO PERMIT ACCURATE MARKING OF THE FACILITY'S LOCATION AND DEPTH.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-02-26

Adopted Date: 1980-02-15

Overall Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 20, 1979, A BULLDOZER OPERATED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT, ORANGE, TEXAS, BEGAN TO CLEAN A FARM DRAINAGE DITCH WITH A GENERALLY NORTH-SOUTH ALIGNMENT. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL PASSES ACROSS THE DITCH, THE OPERATOR HEADED THE BULLDOZER SOUTH ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE DITCH. AT 2:15 P.M. THE CORNER OF THE BLADE CUT INTO A PROPANE LINE, OWNED BY THE CITIES SERVICE PIPE LINE COMPANY, WHICH CROSSED BENEATH THE DITCH IN AN EAST-WEST DIRECTION. PROPANE AT 350 PSIG ESCAPED AND WAS IGNITED WITHIN SECONDS. THE RESULTING FIRE KILLED ONE PERSON AND INJURED ANOTHER, AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Ntsbnumber: FTW79FP014

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: State of Texas, County of Orange, Drainage District

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Addressee Acronym: OCDD

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: OCDD

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-04-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-80-007>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `0674d43c3e78c7eca3f1b553c7636826e3f86a6ba54a83ef05e5b4d8aede207a`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T04:57:18.239Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-007`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-007",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "FTW79FP014",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-04-01",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2026-03-19",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_5_7.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "State of Texas, County of Orange, Drainage District",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-04-01",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "OCDD",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-05",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "OCDD",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-04-01",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```