OPERATOR WANTED TO GO FISHING.  HE LEFT THE WILDLIFE BOAT LANDING IN GRIFTON AND WAS GOINF TO HEAD TOWARD THE MOUTH OF CONTENTNEA CREEK AND THE NEUSE RIVER.  OPERATOR WENT TO GET ON PLANE AND HEARD A THUD AND THE BOAT SLOWED DOWN JUST A LITTLE.  HE THEN HEARD A CRACK AND LOOKED BACK AND THE MOTOR WAS FALLING INTO THE WATER.  THE MOTOR WAS STILL CONNECTED BY THE GAS LINES AND THROTTLE CABLE.  THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE BOAT BACK TO THE RAMP.  WITH ASSISTANCE FROM EMERGENCY CREWS, OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO GET THE BOAT AND MOTOR BACK ON THE TRUCK AND TRAILER.  AFTER LOOKING AT THE BOAT, THE WOOD INSIDE THE TRANSOM WAS ROTTEN AND THE MOTOR ON THE BOAT WAS OVERSIZED.  THE CREEK AND RIVER ARE FAIRLY LOW AND IT'S HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT OPERATOR HAD HIT A STUMP OF SUBMERGED LOG WHICH MADE THE FIBERGLASS PART OF THE TRANSOM BREAK RESULTING IN THE MOTOR FALLING OFF.  THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS INVOLVED.  OPERATOR DID NOT HAVE TO USE ANY PFDS BUT HAD THEM ON BOARD.
GRIFTON                       