RedactedNarrative: On 5/25/19 at approximately 3:30 pm, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) dispatch received a call from the Dixie County Sheriffs Office in reference to a single airboat accident that occurred in the Salt Creek channel in Suwannee.  Three people were on board, of which 2 were air lifted to Shands in Gainseville.  
  
  The operator drove himself there. Operator stated to Investigator at Shands hospital, that he had encountered a steering problem involving the steering lever located on the port side of the operator seat and over corrected as he turned out of a right turn causing the airboat to impact the tree.  
  
  Investigator and I inspected the steering mechanism and found no mechanical failures.  The steering was free and functioning properly.  We did observe that the steering lever, if pulled into the operator seat and a significant amount of pressure applied, it would make moving the lever difficult.  We also observed there are no stops on the steering cross bar to keep the steering lever from making contact with the operator seat.  When the cross bar is pushed to the starboard side, the steering lever will contact the operator seat and could prevent a turn to the port. 
  
   Occupant1:FRACTURED LEFT ANKLE DISPLACED FRACTURE TO THE HUMERUS SURGICAL NECK, LEFT ARM - SHOULDER ; Occupant2:Sustained a cut to right upper arm and a contusion to the back of head on left side.
  