NTSB -- NTSB IDENTIFIES CARGO TANK DESIGN AS FACTOR IN INDIANAPOLIS TRUCK ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CARGO TANK DESIGN AND IMPROVED DRIVER TRAINING

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2011

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NTSB IDENTIFIES CARGO TANK DESIGN AS FACTOR IN INDIANAPOLIS

TRUCK ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CARGO TANK

DESIGN AND IMPROVED DRIVER TRAINING

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WASHINGTON - In a meeting of the five-member Board, the NTSB determined today

that the probable cause of a 2009 rollover accident involving a truck-tractor

and cargo tank semitrailer was the driver’s excessive and rapid evasive

steering maneuver after he began to encroach upon the occupied left lane.

Contributing to the rollover was the driver quickly steering the combination

unit from the right shoulder to the right lane; the reduced cross slope of the

paved right shoulder; and the susceptibility of the combination unit to rollover

because of its high center of gravity.

On October 22, 2009, at about 10:38 a.m. EDT, a 2006 Navistar International

truck-tractor in combination with a 1994 Mississippi Tank Company MC331

specification cargo tank semitrailer (the combination unit), operated by

AmeriGas Propane, L.P., rolled over about 10 miles northeast of downtown

Indianapolis, IN. The tanker was loaded with 9,001 gallons of liquefied

petroleum gas, which escaped, formed a vapor cloud, and ignited. The rollover

occurred on a connection ramp at the junction of I-69 south and I-465 south.

“The NTSB has been concerned about the integrity of cargo tanks carrying

hazardous materials for more than 40 years”, said NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P.

Hersman. “There are more than 1,300 rollovers a year involving cargo tank

motor vehicles. These accidents pose a significant safety risk to both the

vehicle driver and to the motoring public.”

The NTSB investigation revealed that the truck driver, who was negotiating a

left curve from the right lane of the connection ramp, began to encroach upon

the left lane that was occupied by a passenger car. The truck driver responded

to the car’s presence by over steering his vehicle, which caused it to veer to

the right and onto the paved right shoulder. Moments later, the truck driver

steered counterclockwise to redirect the truck from the right shoulder and back

to the right lane. This series of driver inputs, steering hard to the right and

then back to the left, led to the cargo tank rolling over, detaching from the truck,

penetrating a steel guardrail, and colliding with and entirely displacing a

bridge pier column that supported the I-465 overpass.

As a result of the accident and post-accident fire, the truck driver and the

driver of the passenger car sustained serious injuries. Three occupants from

other passenger vehicles traveling on I-465 received minor injuries from the

post-accident fire.

The NTSB issued 20 safety recommendations including the following:

To the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

· Implement a comprehensive rollover prevention program.

To the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration

· Analyze available accident data to identify cargo tank designs that are

susceptible to failure for developing accident performance standards

for newly-manufactured cargo tanks.

To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

· Develop stability control system performance standards for all

commercial motor vehicles and buses that have a gross vehicle weight

rating greater than 10,000 pounds as well as to establish comprehensive

minimum performance standards for all newly manufactured cargo tank

motor vehicles.

To the Federal Highway Administration and the American Association of State

Highway and Transportation Officials

· Develop guidelines for identifying and protecting bridges that are

vulnerable to collapse if struck by errant heavy commercial vehicles.

A synopsis of the NTSB report, including the probable cause, findings, and a

complete list of safety recommendations, is available at

http://go.usa.gov/BFf

The full report will be available on the website in several weeks.

Media Contact:

Keith Holloway

202-314-6100

hollowk@xxxxxxxx

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