quote:

Originally posted by olfuzzy:
This is heartbreaking


Out of an 11-person family aboard the ill-fated vessel at the time, nine perished, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's office confirmed to USA Today.


http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018...ng-several-dead.html

Jesus.

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
And this isn't the first of these sinkings. Over the years there have been more than a few deaths associated with multiple sinkings of DUKW tour vehicles.

On local news tonight, 37 deaths since 1999. Another source says 39 (http://abc7news.com/a-timeline-of-deadly-duck-boat-related-accidents/3793587/). To make that really relevant we would need the number of riders over the same span of time.

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. A. J. Forsyth:
I would have donned my vest and bailed out of that thing ASAP once it started taking on water.

That's what I don't understand. You'd have had to fight me to see who's first getting off that damned thing. Vest or no vest.

quote:

That's what I don't understand. You'd have had to fight me to see who's first getting off that damned thing. Vest or no vest.

I've been on airplanes that I thought were going to fall out of the sky, boats that I thought would sink, vehicles that I thought would crash, and equipment that I thought would fail. In every one of those cases I trusted the operator to know what their equipment was capable of and if they were skilled enough to handle it.

I was only scared because I didn't know. My girlfriend is the same way on airplanes. The smallest bump and she's grabbing on for dear life. My advice to her was to watch the flight attendants. If they are still reading their magazine or serving drinks, what you're feeling is normal. You'll know when to be concerned when they start looking concerned.

If this was an original/modified DUKW, it is a very capable machine. They were designed to take waves, wind, and severe leaks. But the person in charge of running it has to know where the line is.

Were they telling the passengers to sit down and remain calm when they should have ordered an evacuation? Possibly. The passengers were trusting the crew to know the capabilities and have the skill to bring it back to land. I suspect that none of the crew had ever operated one of those trucks on anything other than calm water.

If I have water up to my ankles and the guy who's operated one of these for years tells me it's OK that it will make it, I'm likely to take his word over my fear.

That thing was a death trap. Not only does the roof hinder escape, but it looks like it had windows, too. That driver was a fool to take that vehicle out on water that rough.

The passengers trusted the driver and paid for that mistake with their lives.

We just got back Monday from Table Rock and cruised that part of the lake. Years ago my boys liked to watch the ducks splash down into the lake there. Wish they had thought about ditching on the island. May God bless them.

That vessel had no business being out in weather like that. That was negligent.

quote:

My advice to her was to watch the flight attendants. If they are still reading their magazine or serving drinks, what you're feeling is normal.

Flew into Hartford in a rainstorm. Pilot came out to the left of the runway. He dropped a wing, tiptoed through the tulips, and smashed down on the runway.

Both cabin attendants were screaming.

So much to this. But for now that is a tragic loss of life. Prayers to all affected.
That TS looked horrible and violent. They had little chance in my mind. 50/50 at best. One made it, one did not.
I wonder if a radio distress call was made and help summoned?

All should of had life vest's on and ready to jump ship.

It will be interesting to hear what those on board who survived can provide for details.

a1abdj,
You make a good point. They were probably being told to remain calm and stay in their seats.

Saw a newscast this evening which stated that the lake was calm when they entered the water, and then the storm whipped up and caught them before they could complete the return.

Doesn't erase the tragedy. If true it does answer one of the what went wrong questions.

quote:

If I have water up to my ankles and the guy who's operated one of these for years tells me it's OK that it will make it, I'm likely to take his word over my fear.

Interesting scenario. I’m putting vests on my family and jumping.

He’s nothing but a carny to me, and I’m a dad/husband.

The Tstorm warning, not watch, had been in play for 40 minutes. That’s why it’s wreckless/irresponsibile behavior that killed these folks.

quote:

Interesting scenario. I’m putting vests on my family and jumping.

He’s nothing but a carny to me, and I’m a dad/husband.

The second boat did make it. What if you jump off of a boat that would have also made it, but now because you jumped off it stops in an attempt to retrieve you. Then, because it has stopped, it sinks and kills several people on board?

I may have put on a life jacket and been ready to bail, but I think I would wait until it was obvious the vessel was doomed. The operator should have known when that point was approaching and given instructions accordingly.

I'm guessing they never even had training in this. "Abandon ship!" A DUKW!?! Either its the captain or driver saying "remain calm...etc" or the crowd fear of being That Guy who jumps overboard and then its "Man Overboard!" how embarrassing, what now, we gotta swing this thing around and pick him up and....oh CAPSIZE. Plus, its the so close to shore, the other one made it to the ramp, so can we.

The herd mentality is hard to overcome. I'd like to think I would act differently, but hindsight is 20/20 and dry.

ADDED: a1abdj, you were thinking the same thing I was.

The local news just verified that this was a modified (including stretching) WWII era DUKW.

I'm curious as to whether the original higgins pump remained after the conversion, and if so, was it operational. The original DUKWs were expected to be shot up and in rough water. The higgins pump is a mechanical pump capable of expelling 250 gallons per minute. If they were relying on electric pumps I suspect their capability was considerably less.

Criminal. I keep myself and family off cattle boats. So sad.

How many were on board. Did they all perish or where there survivors?

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

Interesting scenario. I’m putting vests on my family and jumping.

He’s nothing but a carny to me, and I’m a dad/husband.

The second boat did make it. What if you jump off of a boat that would have also made it, but now because you jumped off it stops in an attempt to retrieve you. Then, because it has stopped, it sinks and kills several people on board?

I may have put on a life jacket and been ready to bail, but I think I would wait until it was obvious the vessel was doomed. The operator should have known when that point was approaching and given instructions accordingly.

Agreed, on every point. Well, other than the implication I'm jumping off a perfectly functional boat steaming along. But thanks for letting your overshoot hypothetical allow me to kill off a bunch of passengers.

My point was, obviously, that I'm not waiting on someone else to tell me it's OK to panic and take care of myself and my own.

Local news here is reporting that according to a survivor they were told life jackets were not necessary.

Supposedly there were 30 or so people aboard.