OPERATOR STATED WHILE THEY WERE MOTORING NORTH THE PORT ENGINE SHUT OFF TWICE. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THE OPERATOR WENT INTO THE ENGINE ROOM AND SAW IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND HE HEARD WATER RUSHING IN FROM THE PORT ENGINE WHERE THE EXHAUST EXITS UNDER THE WATER LINE. V1 SUNK COMPLETELY IN APPROX 70 TO 80 FEET OF WATER.  THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO BE EVACUATED SAFELY BY FIRST RESPONDERS. V1 WAS RAISED AND RECOVERED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY AND TAKEN TO THE BOAT RAMP WHERE A BIG RIG WRECKER DRUG IT UP THE RAMP.  V1 WAS TOO EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED FOR INVESTIGATORS TO SAFELY GO INSIDE THE ENGIVE COMPARTMENT TO CONFIRM THE OPERATOR'S STATEMENT.  DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR INVESTIGATION THEY FOUND THROUGH OTHER SOURCES THAT THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME V1 HAD SANK IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.
LAKE OUACHITA
ROYAL                         