RedactedNarrative: SYNOPSIS
  On 03/18/18 there was a boating accident involving a single airboat on the St. Johns river on the West shoreline South of State Road 520 in Orange County, Florida.  The vessel capsized ejecting the operator and an occupant into the water.  No injuries were reported.  The vessel, according to the operator, caused a grassfire that lead to the vessel being engulfed in flames.
  
  The vessel was cut up and removed from the scene by Wieland.
  
  INTERVIEWS 
   On 03/18/18, Officer obtained a sworn written statement at Lone Cabbage Boat Ramp. The following are paraphrased excerpts from that sworn statement. 
  Ø	The vessel was traveling west of the river and struck some tussets on the starboard side of the vessel
  Ø	The vessel rode up on the tussets and partially capsized coming to rest on its port side gunnel
  Ø	The exhaust and fuel form the engine ignited the surrounding grass and resulted in a brush fire
  Ø	The occupants were ejected from the vessel and landed in the grass to the south of the vessel and were uninjured
  Ø	The occupants were transported to Lone cabbage boat ramp by the Brevard county Sheriff’s Office.
  
  
  ACCIDENT SCENE DESCRIPTION
  Ø	The weather was clear and bright with wind less than 10 miles an hour
  Ø	The vessel was on dry marsh grass approximately 25 feet from any visible water.
  Ø	The vessel was lying partially on its port side gunnel facing north west
  Ø	There was a large brush fire now in the distance that appeared to have emanated from the accident scene.
  Ø	There were no identifiable markings remaining on the substantially burned vessel
  
  
  VESSEL DESCRIPTION / DAMAGE ASSESSMENT / ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION
   2017 13 Ft. Big Oh fiberglass airboat (FL 2616 RG) - The hull of the vessel was a total loss.  The vessel was completely engulfed in flames and was beyond repair.  According to subject he was able to salvage some parts of the motor block to be reused 
  
  ACCIDENT ANALYSIS
  
  PRE-ACCIDENT
  The vessel was traveling West exiting the St. John’s River and entering the marsh grass being operated by Operator and traveling between 10 and 20 miles an hour.
  
  ACCIDENT
  The vessel struck a marsh grass tusset on the starboard side causing the vessel to partially capsize on the port side gunnel.  The occupants were ejected onto the marsh grass.  The occupants then according to Grosse’s statement pushed the vessel back upright.
  
  POST-ACCIDENT
  The occupants were transported to the Lone Cabbage boat ramp by Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.  The vessel was engulfed in fire and a large brush fire was ignited.  According to Brevard county Fire via Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, there was no threat to persons or structures and could burn out.
   
  CONCLUSION
  Based on evidence and information I have gathered to date, operator violated Navigation rule 6 when he was determining a safe operational speed. operator was operating the vessel at an