This vessel was having trouble coming up on plane, so the operator stopped near a no ski buoys at the mouth of the creek. There  the operator removed the black platform near the prop (believed to be the whale tail) in hopes of helping the vessel plane out.  The operator then turned on the vessels vents and took off, but the vessel would not plane out. Operator then adjusted the trim and then began to give the boat fuel again as it began to plane out he heard a loud boom in the stern of the boat. When operator saw the vessel on fire, he grabbed the other person on board by the arm and jumped overboard into the lake with him. Neither of the two on board were wearing pfd's when they went overboard. Operator swam back to vessel and retrieved a pfd for the passenger, and then swam back again to retrieve a second pfd for himself but was unsuccessful due to the fire and heavy smoke. Nearby persons on another vessel saw survivors in the water and helped them onto their vessel, taking them to a nearby campground. The vessel burned and sank with only a small portion of the bow sticking out of the water.  The next day local divers used bags to float the vessel to the lake surface. Due to the burn damage, officer was unable to record the hin number and ky registration numbers directly from the vessel, but was able to record this information off the boat's title.  No alcohol was suspected in this accident.
CAMPBELLSVILLE                