To assess the integrity of the pipeline is the most important problem to be solved first of all for prevention of any fracture accident of the pipeline. As a result of exerting such efforts, a number of plastic collapse assessment equations have been suggested, however, the scope of using or applying such assessment equations has not been exactly defined. In this study, the case that a surface crack existed in the circumferential direction in the external side of the natural gas pipeline and a bending load was applied to the pipeline was analytically identified as the most critical condition, and a plastic collapse assessment equation fur it was suggested. The flow stress of the API X65 linepipe was defined through the experiment conducted on SENT specimens. Also, a local assessing criterion of a 3-dimensional crack behavior considering not only the crack depth but also the crack length was suggested. Finally, a plastic collapse assessment equation for the API X65 linepipe was developed by performing the 3-dimensional finite element analysis.