# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-019

**Citation:** P-81-019  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1981-07-28  
**Published:** 1981-07-28

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WILLIAMS PIPE LINE COMPANY: PROVIDE APPROPRIATE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS EMPLOYEES COVERING PRECAUTIONARY SAFETY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN A HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-019.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WILLIAMS PIPE LINE COMPANY: PROVIDE APPROPRIATE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS EMPLOYEES COVERING PRECAUTIONARY SAFETY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN A HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-07-28

Adopted Date: 1981-07-22

Overall Date Closed: 1982-07-08

Synopsis: ON APRIL 16, 1980, GASOLINE AT THE WILLIAMS PIPE LINE COMPANY'S MINNEAPOLIS TERMINAL IN ROSEVILLE, MINNESOTA, SPRAYED FROM THE FRACTURED CAST-IRON BASE OF A STATION BOOSTER PUMP AT 72 PSIG PRESSURE, VAPORIZED, AND EXPLODED AFTER IT WAS IGNITED BY THE ARCING OF AN ELECTRIC SWITCH IN THE MAINLINE PUMP CONTROL ROOM 50 FEET DOWNWIND OF THE BOOSTER PUMP.

Ntsbnumber: FTW80FP014

Report Number: PAR-81-03

Addressee Name: Williams Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-07-08

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-07-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-81-019>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `4d3f93b9997bbff4b8e1c7f6ea637492b63b4388c75f4a3ce380d82b4c629b14`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T07:39:07.561Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-81-019`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-81-019",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "FTW80FP014",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1982-07-08",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-81-03",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/FTW80FP014.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P81_17_19.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Williams Pipeline Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1982-07-08",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-07-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```