National Transportation Safety Board Washington, D.C. 20594 PRSRT STD OFFICIAL BUSINESS Postage & Fees Paid Penalty for Private Use, $300 NTSB Permit No. G-200 Capsizing of New York State-Certificated Vessel Ethan Allen, Lake George, New York October 2, 2005 Marine Accident Report NTSB/MAR-06/03 PB2006-916403 Notation 7755B National National Transportation Transportation Safety Board Safety Board Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Marine Accident Report Capsizing of New York State-Certificated Vessel Ethan Allen, Lake George, New York October 2, 2005 NTSB/MAR-06/03 PB2006-916403 National Transportation Safety Board Notation 7755B 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Adopted July 25, 2006 Washington, D.C. 20594 National Transportation Safety Board. 2006. Capsizing of New York State-Certificated Vessel Ethan Allen, Lake George, New York, October 2, 2005. Marine Accident Report NTSB/MAR-06/03. Washington, DC. Abstract: On the afternoon of October 2, 2005, the New York State-certificated public vessel Ethan Allen, with a state-licensed operator and 47 passengers on board, was on a narrated cruise of Lake George, New York. As the tour boat operator was beginning to make a turn to the right, a wave or waves generated by one or more vessels impacted the starboard side of the Ethan Allen. The public vessel rolled to port and overturned within seconds. The overturned vessel remained on the surface of the water several minutes before righting itself and sinking. Operators of recreational vessels nearby observed the accident, proceeded immediately to the site, and began rescuing survivors. Twenty passengers died, three received serious injuries, and six received minor injuries in the accident. The operator and 18 passengers survived without injury. Major safety issues discussed in this report include stability standards and procedures for passenger vessels; New York State’s use of manufacturer’s capacity plates to determine public vessel passenger loading; and regulation of New York State’s public vessels. As a result of its investigation of this accident, the Safety Board made safety recommendations to the U. S. Coast Guard and the State of New York. The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. 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Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of Board reports related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report. iii Marine Accident Report Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms . v Executive Summary . vi Factual Information . 1 Accident Narrative . 1 Injuries . 5 Damages . 6 Personnel Information . 6 New York State Vessel Operator Regulations . 6 Ethan Allen Operator . 6 Vessel Information . 7 History . 7 Construction . 9 Lifesaving Apparatus and Safety Equipment . 10 Vessel Certification and Inspection . 11 Wreckage . .13 Waterway Information . 14 Operations . 14 General . 14 Maintenance . 15 Meteorological Information . 15 Medical and Pathological Information . 15 Medical Information . 15 Toxicology Testing . 16 Survival Aspects . 16 Emergency Response . 16 Survivability-Related Rules . 17 Tests and Research . 17 Raw Water Pump . 17 On-site Stability Assessment . 19 Postaccident Stability Study—Method . 22 Postaccident Stability Study—Results . 23 Other Information . 28 Stability Concepts . 28 Capacity Plates . 30 Accidents Involving Out-of-Date Passenger Weight Standard . 30 New York State Actions Since Accident . 32 Analysis . 34 General . 34 Exclusions . 34 Cause of the Capsizing . 36 Modifications Affecting Vessel Stability . 36 Overloading Due to Out-of-Date Passenger Weight Criterion . 40 Contents iv Marine Accident Report Influence of Vessel Motions on Stability . 41 Capacity Plates . 42 Postaccident Actions by Regulatory Authorities . 43 New York Actions . 43 Coast Guard Actions . 44 Postaccident Toxicological Testing . 45 Survival Issues . 45 Conclusions . 48 Findings . 48 Probable Cause . 49 Recommendations . ..