# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-018

**Citation:** P-84-018  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1984-06-15  
**Published:** 1984-06-15

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PLASTIC PIPE INSTITUTE: URGE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES TO COOPERATE WITH THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NONDESTRUCTIVE EQUIPMENT TESTING CAPABLE OF DETECTING INADEQUATELY FUSED BUTT, SADDLE, AND SOCKET FUSION JOINTS IN THE FIELD.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-018.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PLASTIC PIPE INSTITUTE: URGE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES TO COOPERATE WITH THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NONDESTRUCTIVE EQUIPMENT TESTING CAPABLE OF DETECTING INADEQUATELY FUSED BUTT, SADDLE, AND SOCKET FUSION JOINTS IN THE FIELD.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-06-15

Adopted Date: 1984-05-17

Overall Date Closed: 1989-04-19

Synopsis: ON JULY 12, 1983, NATURAL GAS ESCAPING UNDER 60 POUNDS PRESSURE FROM A CRACK IN A BUTT FUSION JOINT IN A 2-INCH PLASTIC GAS MAIN ENTERED AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN CLEAR LAKE, IOWA, EXPLODED, AN THEN BURNED. TWO INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE INJURED, ONE APARTMENT BUILDING WAS DESTROYED, AND THE ADJACENT APARTMENT BUILDING WAS DAMAGED HEAVILY. DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN $1 MILLION; NONE OF THE RESIDENTS WERE INJURED OR KILLED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA83MP022

Report Number: PAR-84-02

Addressee Name: Plastics Pipe Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-04-19

Addressee Acronym: PPI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-06-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: PPI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-04-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-84-018>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `b9e6639376ed28ef546df4451cd90643128aac1afb7e7d567a319c17656a11d9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T19:19:28.687Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-84-018`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-84-018",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA83MP022",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1989-04-19",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-84-02",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA83MP022.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P84_17_18.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Plastics Pipe Institute",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CUA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1989-04-19",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "PPI",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1988-06-07",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "PPI",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1989-04-19",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```