# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-042

**Citation:** P-80-042  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1980-06-04  
**Published:** 1980-06-04

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF CORDELE GAS DEPARTMENT: INSTRUCT ITS GAS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SUFFICIENT CHECKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL LEAKS RESULTING FROM EXCAVATION DAMAGE HAVE BEEN LOCATED AND REPAIRED. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-042.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF CORDELE GAS DEPARTMENT: INSTRUCT ITS GAS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SUFFICIENT CHECKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL LEAKS RESULTING FROM EXCAVATION DAMAGE HAVE BEEN LOCATED AND REPAIRED. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-06-04

Adopted Date: 1980-05-29

Overall Date Closed: 1983-01-04

Synopsis: ON FEBRUARY 21, 1980, AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED FOUR STORES IN A SHOPPING COMPLEX AND SEVERELY DAMAGED AN ADJOINING RESTAURANT IN CORDELE, GEORGIA. OF THE EIGHT PERSONS WHO WERE INJURED, THREE DIED LATER AS A RESULT OF THEIR INJURIES. PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: PLD80XR001

Report Number: PAR-80-05

Addressee Name: State of Georgia, City of Cordele

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-01-04

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CITY MANAGER OF CORDELE, GEORGIA, LETTER: FOR YOUR RECORDS, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED IN YOUR LETTERS OF JUNE 4, 1980, AND OCTOBER 5, 1982, HAVE BEEN REITERATED TO OUR PERSONNEL AND ALSO SUCH ITEMS AS CUSTOMER PROGRAMS FOR NATURAL GAS ODOR RECOGNITION ARE IN EFFECT; A SAMPLE OF BROCHURE WHICH WE MAIL OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH GAS SEASON IS ATTACHED. AS TO OUR ODORIZATION EQUIPMENT, A NEW UNIT HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND IS NOW IN OPERATION. YOU MAY BE SURE THAT IT IS OUR INTENT TO CONTINUE PROPER SURVEILLANCE AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE VISITS MADE TO US BY YOUR LOCAL OFFICE TO REASSESS OUR OPERATIONS WHENEVER THEY DEEM IT NECESSARY.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-01-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-80-042>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `96baae285a69926d3c03942d58fd5894cb46e2b5ce7dfcb9ec219c00fd72fd9d`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T10:18:40.999Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-042`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-042",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD80XR001",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-01-04",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-80-05",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD80XR001.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_39_42.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "State of Georgia, City of Cordele",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-01-04",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-13",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "CITY MANAGER OF CORDELE, GEORGIA, LETTER:  FOR YOUR RECORDS, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED IN YOUR LETTERS OF JUNE 4, 1980, AND OCTOBER 5, 1982, HAVE BEEN REITERATED TO OUR PERSONNEL AND ALSO SUCH ITEMS AS CUSTOMER PROGRAMS FOR NATURAL GAS ODOR RECOGNITION ARE IN EFFECT; A SAMPLE OF BROCHURE WHICH WE MAIL OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH GAS SEASON IS ATTACHED.  AS TO OUR ODORIZATION EQUIPMENT, A NEW UNIT HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND IS NOW IN OPERATION.  YOU MAY BE SURE THAT IT IS OUR INTENT TO CONTINUE PROPER SURVEILLANCE AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE VISITS MADE TO US BY YOUR LOCAL OFFICE TO REASSESS OUR OPERATIONS WHENEVER THEY DEEM IT NECESSARY."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-05",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-01-04",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```