On 4/3/13, FWC dispatch received a call from operator  stating that he had been in an airboat accident. 

I then made contact with Operator1 by phone and he stated that the accident had occurred on 3/31/13 at approximately 1700 hrs and he did not report it because he did not know he had to. On 4/9/2013, I met with Operator1 at his residence to gather more information about the accident and to take pictures of the vessel. 

Operator1 advised that his wife, his friend, and himself were headed north on the St. Johns river about a quarter mile north of 528 when he came to a bend in the river and he began to turn right. As Operator1 began to turn, he could feel his boat start sliding towards the bank (due to the shallow water that the vessel was in, it kept sliding towards the bank). Operator1 stated that he tried to give the airboat gas and power out of the turn but he was unable to. When the vessel struck the bank, Operator1 estimates that he was going between 20-25 mph. As the vessel struck, the front passenger was thrown from his seat and down onto the front starboard side of the grass rake, striking his head. Operator1 was seated at the drivers seat on the rear port side; he was thrown from the boat and into the water. When Operator1 landed he was in the water to the port side of the vessel. wife was seated in the rear starboard seat and was thrown over the front seat and landed on the bow. 

After the boat rested, Operator1 reentered the vessel and saw that occupant was bleeding from his fore head. They wrapped occupant’s head to stop bleeding and were able to get assistance from a passing vessel in order to make it back to the ramp. Later that night friend went to the hospital on his own where he received staples in his forehead. friend was unwilling to speak to me about the boating accident.  

After examining the vessel the damage is as follows:
Minor dent to the port side of the cage from were the props struck.
Approximately 3 inches missing from the end of all 5 props. 
Stern has a fold in the middle due to the rear port side striking the bank.
Port stern broke a weld. 
The rigging and cage of the vessel appear to be offset. 
Steering stick now rubs the rigging. 

Operator1 is going to be issued citations for failure to report a boating accident 327.30(2) and violation of a navigation rule resulting in an accident 327.33(3)(a) (Nav rule 6 safe speed) 

; Friend had a 3-4 inch cut on his forehead that had to be stapled. The cut occurred when friend was thrown from his seat and onto the grass rake of the airboat.
COCOA