Abstract: Employee #1, a derrickman, was working on a crew that was engaged in a snubbing operation to insert production tubing into a new gas well that was under pressure. He was in the snubbing basket while the crew was using a process called piggybacking to hoist up sections of tubing to the work platform, where it was inserted into the well. Piggybacking involved using sash cord to connect sections of tubing in a continuous chain. As Employee #1 was working, a section of tubing became caught on the snubbing basket and caused the sash cord to break. The tubing fell and sheared a hydraulic fitting on the blowout preventer (bop). This released the hydraulic pressure and caused the annular to release natural gas into the work platform area. In an effort to stop the flow of natural gas, the rig operator quickly set the hand brake and proceeded to the remotely located bop panel. The brake on the vehicle became unset, allowing the traveling blocks and wire ropes to fall and strike Employee #1. He was killed.