# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-88-014

**Citation:** P-88-014  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1988-11-21  
**Published:** 1988-11-21

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION IN WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, ON JANUARY 18, 1988, AND RECOMMEND THAT EACH COMPANY SURVEY EXISTING GAS METER INSTALLATIONS AND RELOCATE THOSE THAT ARE IN PITS ADJACENT TO BUILDING OPENINGS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-88-014.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION IN WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, ON JANUARY 18, 1988, AND RECOMMEND THAT EACH COMPANY SURVEY EXISTING GAS METER INSTALLATIONS AND RELOCATE THOSE THAT ARE IN PITS ADJACENT TO BUILDING OPENINGS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1988-11-21

Adopted Date: 1988-10-25

Overall Date Closed: 1989-07-07

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 18, 1988, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION DESTROYED THE BUILDING HOUSING THE K&W CAFETERIA AND THE LOBBY OF THE SHERATON MOTOR INN AT 380 KNOLLWOOD STREET, WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA. TWO ADJOINING MOTEL WINGS SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. OF THE FOUR PERSONS IN THE LOBBY/ CAFETERIA BUILDING AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION, THREE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FOURTH PERSON SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ANKLE. ONE MOTEL GUEST ALSO SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS BUT REFUSED TREATMENT.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA88MP008

Report Number: PAR-88-01

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-07-07

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-04-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THANK YOU FOR YOUR MARCH 21 LETTER CONCERNING SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-88-14. MY MARCH 17 LETTER TRANSMITTING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO OUR MEMBER COMPANIES IS ATTACHED. JUDGING FROM THE DATE OF YOUR LETTER, IT APPEARS THEY CROSSED IN THE MAIL. I TRUST THAT OUR MINOR MODIFICATION OF THE NTSB'S RECOMMENDATION IS ACCEPTABLE. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST NTSB IN ITS MISSION TO PROMOTE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-03-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-07-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-88-014>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `364a9be383a1ba93e849d1fd9987735535aafda747683f4e1036e5e576f922a2`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T14:42:31.176Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-88-014`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-88-014",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA88MP008",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1989-07-07",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-88-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA88MP008.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P88_14.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "American Gas Association",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1989-07-07",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1989-04-06",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "THANK YOU FOR YOUR MARCH 21 LETTER CONCERNING SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-88-14.  MY MARCH 17 LETTER TRANSMITTING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO OUR MEMBER COMPANIES IS ATTACHED. JUDGING FROM THE DATE OF YOUR LETTER, IT APPEARS THEY CROSSED IN THE MAIL.  I TRUST THAT OUR MINOR MODIFICATION OF THE NTSB'S RECOMMENDATION IS ACCEPTABLE.  WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST NTSB IN ITS MISSION TO PROMOTE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGA",
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          "isFromNtsb": false,
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          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGA",
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          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1989-03-21",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
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        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGA",
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}
```