On January 13, 2013 at approximately 1030 hours, I received a complaint reference an airboat with two people on board that had capsized in a canal west of Holiday Park in the Everglades Wildlife Management Area 3A South. No injuries were reported only that there were two victims in the water waiting to be rescued.  As I was en route, my dispatcher advised that a vessel with two good Samaritan's had spotted the victims in the water and rescued them.  They were transported to the west boat ramp at Holiday Park where my supervisor, Lt. and EMS were standing by.  I arrived at approximately 1051 hours and made contact with the owner/operator of V-1.  Operator said he was at idle speed heading south in the canal (L-68) when he attempted to turn his airboat around to head north, but, too much water came up and over the left (port) rear corner during the turn and a lot of water came inside.  The weight of the water caused V-1 to list severely to port and it eventually capsized and forced Operator and his passenger to bail.  V-1 sank in approximately ten feet of water and became completely submerged under water.   

I concluded that operator inattention was the factor in the cause of this accident.  The speed at the rate of turn is controlled by the operator.  Operator needed to watch the left rear corner while conducting the right turn especially in deep water to prevent V-1 port aft from pushing too much water to come up and over the gunwale.  V-1 had too much water in the hull adversely affecting it's stability and eventually it capsized.

I issued Operator a UBC citation for careless operation as per F.S. 327.33(2).
WESTON