RedactedNarrative: On January 15, 2017, I, Ranger First Class with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Critical Incident Reconstruction Team (DNR CIRT) was contacted by Sergeant (DNR) in reference to a boating incident on Jackson Lake.  Sergeant said a passenger, later identified as Victim, was missing from a vessel.  I called the on scene officer, RFC.  RFC said he was at Nuthatch Beach in Turtle Cove on Lake Jackson with the operator of the vessel.  
  
  I arrived on scene at approximately 0500 hours.  RFC explained that the operator’s daughter was the missing passenger.  RFC said that the vessel and items were recovered from the water by Newton County fire department. Next, I interviewed Operator.  Operator said he and his daughter, Victim, put the boat in at Berry’s boat landing.  Operator said they fished at the 212 Bridge then went to Connolly Ditch Bridge to fish.  Operator said he decided to leave Connolly Ditch and fish under the powerlines that crossover Jackson Lake.  
  
  Operator said when he was driving the boat from the powerline back toward boat landing the boat started leaning to the right and it wasn’t “trimming” right.  Operator said he turned the vessel left and it started to “wobble” out of control and flipped him over the boat.  Operator said he had to dive under twice to avoid being struck by the vessel.  
  It is my opinion based on the investigation, witness statements, operator’s recount, and all associated reports, on January 15 2017, between 2100-2200 hours, Operator1 and his daughter arrived at Berry’s boat landing to put the 16’, center console, Proline vessel into Jackson Lake to fish for crappie. They were fishing the area of the lake where the powerlines cross over (Near Nuthatch Beach). Operator1 quit fishing, while Occupant was sleeping in the bottom of the vessel not wearing a PFD, and attempted to return to Berry’s boat landing. While travelling approximately 20-30 miles per hour the vessel started to lean to the starboard/right side, therefore, Operator1 attempted to correct this by stepping to the port/left side of the vessel. This did not work, therefore, Operator1 turned the steering wheel to the port/left side. This caused the vessel to become unstable, resulting in the ejection of Operator1 on the starboard side of the vessel (Evidence 1). A kill switch was not utilized and the vessel began traveling in circles. Operator1 was not able to regain entry into the vessel. Operator1 swam to the nearest shoreline and approached the residence to get help. Operator1, residence owner, and Deputy were not able to locate Occupant. On January 16, 2017, at 1955 hours, the body of Occupant was recovered. Occupant was recovered 33 yards from the shoreline in 10.2 feet of water, near the area where her boots and personal flotation device were recovered. The autopsy results concluded Occupant drowned.
  
  No physical evidence was located on the vessel to determine what caused the vessel to become unstable resulting in the ejection of Operator1 and Occupant.