P-80-002 - NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-002 | Regulus

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-002.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS: ADVISE ALL STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THAT THEY NOTIFY OPERATORS OF PIPELINE AND OTHER UNDERGROUND FACILITIES BEFORE EXCAVATING NEAR THESE FACILITIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-02-26

Adopted Date: 1980-02-15

Overall Date Closed: 1998-04-15

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 20, 1979, A BULLDOZER OPERATED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT, ORANGE, TEXAS, BEGAN TO CLEAN A FARM DRAINAGE DITCH WITH A GENERALLY NORTH-SOUTH ALIGNMENT. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL PASSES ACROSS THE DITCH, THE OPERATOR HEADED THE BULLDOZER SOUTH ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE DITCH. AT 2:15 P.M. THE CORNER OF THE BLADE CUT INTO A PROPANE LINE, OWNED BY THE CITIES SERVICE PIPE LINE COMPANY, WHICH CROSSED BENEATH THE DITCH IN AN EAST-WEST DIRECTION. PROPANE AT 350 PSIG ESCAPED AND WAS IGNITED WITHIN SECONDS. THE RESULTING FIRE KILLED ONE PERSON AND INJURED ANOTHER, AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Ntsbnumber: FTW79FP014

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: State of Texas

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1998-04-15

Addressee Acronym: TX