Two floorhands were using the tugger to pick up a joint of heavyweight drill pipe (HWDP). One worker operated the controls lifting the joint, slowing down as the bottom crested the V-door to prevent swing. Another worker used his arm to guide the HWDP to the mousehole as it was raised above the floor and as he was about to remove the thread protector, the HWDP dropped to the floor and began to fall toward the driller’s controls. The top of the pipe struck the doghouse and bounced bottom up, throwing the worker into the steam manifold. As the pipe slid down the doghouse, it fell through the railing, and across the mud tanks missing a third worker. The HWDP smashed through the door of the track hoe and the operator threw himself to the front of the cab to avoid being struck.