On 6/15/13 at 8:30 am, operator and passenger, were fishing crawfish traps in a pipeline canal in the Atchafalaya Basin located in St. Martin parish.  the vessel used is a 2011 19foot Charles Skiff, LA1396FY.  Upon the completion of checking he last crawfish trap, Operator began to accelerate his 35hp Gator-Tail hand tiller operated motor to leave the pipeline canal. Once the vessel was cruising, the vessel struck a large unmarked submerged pipe sitting several inches below the surface of the water.  Upon striking the submerged pipe, the vessel came to an abrupt stop causing the operator and the passenger to be thrown forward into the crawfish grading table mounted in the vessel.  After making contact with the crawfish grading table, the operator fell to the floor of the vessel and the passenger was ejected from the vessel into the water.  Neither Operator nor his passenger was wearing a PFD, however, Operator was wearing the required engine cutoff lanyard.  Neither Operator nor Occupant were able to call for help using their cellular phones because they were both damaged.  The men had to lift the boat off the pipe in order to begin navigating to the boat launch.   Once the men made it to the launch they went to Teche Regional Medical Center located in Morgan City, where they were treated for their injuries.  Operator suffered a fracture to his cheek , several broken teeth, and bruising on his chest. Occupant suffered a laceration to his chin requiring stitches.  Upon investigation, Agents determined neither drugs or alcohol were involved. Operator's vessel suffered several dents on the underside, along with some gouges from going over the bolts on the pipe, a hole where one of the bolts punctured the bottom, and the crawfish grading table was bent and broken from the impact of the men hitting it.  Other equipment damaged included a small generator, a radio, and two blowers.
Pierre Part