# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-060

**Citation:** P-80-060  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1980-07-15  
**Published:** 1980-07-15

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY: INSTRUCT ITS EMPLOYEES TO COMPLY WITH COMPANY POLICY REQUIRING THE PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE UNTIL ONSCENE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-060.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY: INSTRUCT ITS EMPLOYEES TO COMPLY WITH COMPANY POLICY REQUIRING THE PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE UNTIL ONSCENE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-07-15

Adopted Date: 1980-07-08

Overall Date Closed: 1980-09-29

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 30, 1979, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE DEMOLISHED A TOWNHOUSE AT 215 THIRD STREET SE., IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND DAMAGED NEARBY BUILDINGS AND CARS. NO ONE WAS INSIDE THE TOWNHOUSE AT THE TIME, BUT THREE PERSONS IN A STOPPED CAR WERE INJURED WHEN DEBRIS FROM THE EXPLOSION SHATTERED A CAR WINDOW.

Ntsbnumber: PLD80XR002

Report Number: PAR-80-04

Addressee Name: Washington Gas

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1980-09-29

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-08-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY LTR: A COPY OF A WGL INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION DATED JULY 21, 1980, ADDRESSED TO ALL TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION FIELD PERSONNEL TITLED, "HANDLING OF EVIDENCE AT SITE OF INCIDENT." THE COMMUNICATION STATES IN PART: "ONCE THE JOB SITE IS MADE SAFE AN APPROPRIATE MEMBER OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TASK FORCE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE THE SITE OR ITEMS OF COMPANY PROPERTY ARE REMOVED, DESTROYED, OR DISTURBED, BEYOND WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE JOB SITE SAFE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-09-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-80-060>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `3e64235bc7e47227e4c895244a83f043d1f2cfb0c0d8afac8932f7050af358df`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T19:21:30.643Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-060`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-060",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD80XR002",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1980-09-29",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-80-04",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD80XR002.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_60.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Washington Gas",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1980-09-29",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1980-08-27",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY LTR:  A COPY OF A WGL INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION DATED JULY 21, 1980, ADDRESSED TO ALL TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION FIELD PERSONNEL TITLED, \"HANDLING OF EVIDENCE AT SITE OF INCIDENT.\"  THE COMMUNICATION STATES IN PART:  \"ONCE THE JOB SITE IS MADE SAFE AN APPROPRIATE MEMBER OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TASK FORCE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE THE SITE OR ITEMS OF COMPANY PROPERTY ARE REMOVED, DESTROYED, OR DISTURBED, BEYOND WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE JOB SITE SAFE."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1980-09-29",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```