ACCORDING TO OPERATOR/OWNER STATEMENT THERE HAD BEEN A GAS LEAK ON THE CARBURATOR.  IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED BUT OPERATOR/OWNER STATED HE DID OT ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR FUMES TO DISSIPATE.  ONCE THE MOTOR WAS STARTED IT BACKFIRED ONCE, CAUSING FUMES TO EXPLODE.  ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE ON -BOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT COULD NOT FIND IT.  AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS EVERYONE ELSE JUMPED OVERBOARD. AFTER OPERATOR/OWNER COULD NOT LOCATE FIRE EXTINGUISHER HE JUMPED OVERBOARD AS WELL.
FT RUCKER                     