Operator motored out of Bayou Bonfuca and entered Lake Ponchartrain as he was heading to the Mississippi River to bring his vessel back to his house.  As he got near the train bridge he lost power to the starboard engine.  

As he lost power to the engine a front started to break and the weather turned for the worst.  Operator sent his son the only passenger downstairs to put a charger on the battery.  The engine was able to be restarted for a short time but lost power again.  After losing the starboard engine the port engine lost power and the wind pushed the vessel broadside against the train bridge.  Once the boat started beating against the train bridge the Capt. and his passenger jump onto the train bridge where they called 911 and the Coast Guard. 

 Approximately 6:30 p.m. the Coast Guard was able to get them from the bridge and bring them to safety.  Alcohol does not seem to be a factor in this accident as the Agents were not notified until the next day and were not able to locate the boat after several visits to the area.  Operator nor his passenger used PFD's in this accident.  This vessel was equipped with hydraulic steering.  In this investigators opinion it is believed that equipment failure and weather where the two biggest contributing factors to this accident.
LAKE PONCHARTRAIN
SLIDELL                       