# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-86-019

**Citation:** P-86-019  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1986-11-24  
**Published:** 1986-11-24

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT NORTHEAST UTILITIES SERVICE COMPANY: EMPHASIZE IN ITS TRAINING OF OPERATING PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE COMPANY PROCEDURES FOR PATROLLING AND PROTECTING ITS GAS MAINS IN PROXIMITY TO EXCAVATION PROJECTS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-86-019.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT NORTHEAST UTILITIES SERVICE COMPANY: EMPHASIZE IN ITS TRAINING OF OPERATING PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE COMPANY PROCEDURES FOR PATROLLING AND PROTECTING ITS GAS MAINS IN PROXIMITY TO EXCAVATION PROJECTS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1986-11-24

Adopted Date: 1986-11-14

Overall Date Closed: 1987-05-14

Synopsis: ABOUT 3:55 P.M., EASTERN STANDARD TIME, DECEMBER 6, 1985, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE RIVER RESTAURANT AT 268 MAIN STREET IN DERBY, CONNECTICUT. GAS ESCAPING FROM A BROKEN GAS MAIN AT A PRESSURE OF ABOUT 1 POUND PER SQUARE INCH HAD ESCAPED, MIGRATED INTO THE RESTAURANT BASEMENT, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED. OF THE 18 PERSONS INSIDE THE RESTAURANT AT THE TIME, 6 WERE KILLED AND 12 WER INJURED; 1 PASSERBY AND 1 FIREFIGHTER WERE ALSO INJURED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE STREET ADJACENT TO THE RESTAURANT WAS EXCAVATED WHERE A 24-INCH DIAMETER SEWER SYSTEM HAD JUST BEEN INSTALLED; AN 87-YEAR-OLD, 3-INCH DIAMETER, CAST-IRON NATURAL GAS MAIN WAS FOUND BROKEN.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Evacuation, Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA86FP004

Report Number: PAR-86-02

Addressee Name: Northeast Utilities Service Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1987-05-14

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-02-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE COMPANY REVIEWS PROCEDURES WITH OPERATING PERSONNEL ANNUALLY ON AN AREA BASIS. THE AREAS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO PLACE SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LEAK SURVEY, LEAK INVESTIGATION, AND CONSTRUCTION MONITORING PROCEDURES.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-05-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-86-019>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `bce66186de66f6bff2d53a5f827b45d2b5c4604e9b143323f95e1464ec4b3abf`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T23:53:28.441Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-86-019`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-86-019",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA86FP004",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1987-05-14",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-86-02",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA86FP004.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P86_19_20.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Northeast Utilities Service Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1987-05-14",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1987-02-10",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "THE COMPANY REVIEWS PROCEDURES WITH OPERATING PERSONNEL ANNUALLY ON AN AREA BASIS.  THE AREAS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO PLACE SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LEAK SURVEY, LEAK INVESTIGATION, AND CONSTRUCTION MONITORING PROCEDURES."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1987-05-14",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```