On june 24, 2011, at approximately 19:50 hrs vessel 1 owned by operator entered browns inlet from the icw.  Vessel 1 was a 2005 17' maverick flats boat powered by a 90 horsepower yamaha four stroke outboard engine carrying 4 adult passengers.  The wind was approximately 20 knots and a small craft advisory had been issued for the area.  According to the operator and witnesses that were aboard the vessel, the operator entered the inlet to check the conditions to find out if it was suitable enough to fish.  When the vessel reached approximately half way out of the inlet, the operator decided conditions were too rough and decided to turn around and head back into the icw.  Upon making a turn to starboard, a large wave came over the stern of the vessel washing overboard a mooring line that was lying on the deck underneath the polling platform.  The line became entangled in the prop and caused the motor to stall out.  The vessel then turned broadside to the oncoming waves and ran aground on a sandbar.  The ensuing waves swamped the vessel and all 4 passengers put on type iii uscg pfds and climbed out onto the sandbar.  The swamped vessel was abandoned and was last seen turned upside down on the sandbar with waves crashing over it.  The 4 passengers waded and swam to bear island where a commercial fishing vessel spotted them and took them to shore.  There appeared to be no alcohol or drugs involved in the accident.  Causes of the accident were entering the inlet during small craft advisory conditions, failure to secure lines on the deck and grounding.
SWANSBORO                     