On November 25, 2010, Operator was traveling west across the Vermillion River from a private slip towards the Port of Vermillion in his 12' Monarch flat bottom aluminum boat powered by a 20 hp Johnson outboard motor with tiller steer.  Operator advised when he got on plane the transom board cracked.  The motor tilted back causing the cavitation plate on the lower unit to hit the bottom of the transom making a hole through the aluminum.  Operator advised that his vessel began to shift back and forth from starboard to port (chime walking).  Operator advised that he accelerated in an attempt to gain control of his vessel causing him to fall overboard.  The vessel then circled to  port in a counter clockwise direction.  The bottom side of the vessel struck Operator on his left side causing him injury.  The vessel then started sinking and eventually came to rest floating bow up in the middle of the Port Of Vermillion slip.   Operator was wearing a type III PFD.  Due to the age of the motor it was not equipped with a kill switch.  Operator with assistance from his dog made it back to the bank and 911 was called.  There was no evidence of alcohol or drugs used by Operator.
Abbeville                     