RedactedNarrative: On October 14, 2014 at approximately 1330, Operator was idling vessel LA3340FJ a 19 ft airboat around in shallow water with three other subjects onboard when Operator gave the engine more throttle to get on step and the boat turned on its right side and sank, causing all four subjects to go into the water. None of the subjects were injured at the time of the incident, they were not wearing PFD's at the time of the incident, however the boat was equipped with the proper PFD's, the water was shallow so the subjects climbed back on the vessel to get out of the water and dry off as much as possible when victim got a scratch on his leg. The Men were not able to call for help, and at around 1145 p.m. two others notified the Coast Guard about the missing subjects.  The Coast Guard notified P.P.S.O. and while they were in route C.G. started searching with helicopter, and at around 1:30a.m. The subjects were found and brought back to Venice safely. The airboat had manual stick steering, it was explained to me by Operator that victim’s leg was bothering him by the time they got back to the dock, and that the scratch was very minor and only about an inch long. Victim ended up getting and infection in leg (Vibrio) and passed away at a later date. Operator told me that when they recovered the airboat and picked it up out of the water he noticed that one of the plugs was out and the only thing he can determine why the vessel rolled on its side and sank is that with the plug out while idling around in the shallow water and being that the airboat is decked over and him not being able to see in the floor of the vessel, it took on water and when he went to get on step giving the engine throttle causing the torque of the engine to the right side and the water in the hull going to the right side rolling the vessel on its side. The Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division was not notified until a much later date by the Coast Guard.
  
  I was later told by subject that the injury to leg was more than a scratch, it was a good size cut with a fair amount of bleeding.