Air Boat Accident ?

By: Fergie
7/27/2023 12:17 AM

My son told me this evening that his receptionist got a call today that her son vacationing at the Outer Banks was in an airboat accident. Boat flipped, ? son transported to Greenville ?
Does anyone have a source to find out more information ?
I remember a couple yrs. ago talk about an airboat operation being planned or proposed for Nags Head.

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By: Fergie
7/27/2023 12:34 AM

Found report on Outer banks voice

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By: jfalba
7/27/2023 5:06 AM

We didn’t see the accident but we were well north of them shrimping in the Sound. Capt and first mate told us there was a large airboat charter that flipped over several times all the passengers were in the water, many serious injuries, the story I heard was the boat was making a turn and hit the bottom not sure if that is the real reason. Those boats go fast. The charter was out of pirates cove

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By: Alexy
7/27/2023 5:23 AM


By: Jules_NC
7/27/2023 8:31 AM

We took this tour in June. I was aware of how annoyingly tourist this was, but we did it in lieu of a dolphin tour. While it was fun, I quickly realized how close to disaster we could be. Just bench seats and nothing to really hold onto. The only one offered a life jacket was my child who is under 13. I realize the waters we traveled in were very shallow but looking back, how stupid we didn’t all have on life jackets.

I cannot believe this was true, no adults ever wear life jackets (look at pictures) and honestly I have no idea where they were located.
“The dispatcher also said various degrees of injuries were reported and that all passengers were reported to be wearing life jackets.”

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By: Tim-OBX
7/27/2023 9:04 AM

We took this tour in June. I was aware of how annoyingly tourist this was, but we did it in lieu of a dolphin tour. While it was fun, I quickly realized how close to disaster we could be. Just bench seats and nothing to really hold onto. The only one offered a life jacket was my child who is under 13. I realize the waters we traveled in were very shallow but looking back, how stupid we didn’t all have on life jackets.

I cannot believe this was true, no adults ever wear life jackets (look at pictures) and honestly I have no idea where they were located.
“The dispatcher also said various degrees of injuries were reported and that all passengers were reported to be wearing life jackets.”

Jules_NC


Did you go on the airboat ride with owner Jamie Moore (no relation)? I have been on an airboat in Virginia and you are very close to danger when they go fast.

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By: Laszlo
7/27/2023 9:08 AM

We are coming down in September, rented a place in Nags Head. We have friends who are coming down from Canada and have never been to the Outer Banks. One of the things they wanted to do was the airboat ride. I said no thanks, I've seen it in action while out on my boat and other boats. I'll have to send them the link on the accident

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By: Mstaszew
7/27/2023 9:14 AM

I wonder if this is the guy who has one in or near Old Nags Head Cove. I've been kayaking near the Little Bridge and seen him flying through the islands there. Fortunately it's so loud you have time to move to the side, but some of those cuts are pretty tight.

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By: Laszlo
7/27/2023 9:25 AM

I wonder if this is the guy who has one in or near Old Nags Head Cove. I've been kayaking near the Little Bridge and seen him flying through the islands there. Fortunately it's so loud you have time to move to the side, but some of those cuts are pretty tight.

Mstaszew


Could be, the one I've seen seems to put in at the Baum Bridge boat ramp across from PC.

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By: Mstaszew
7/27/2023 9:27 AM

I wonder if this is the guy who has one in or near Old Nags Head Cove. I've been kayaking near the Little Bridge and seen him flying through the islands there. Fortunately it's so loud you have time to move to the side, but some of those cuts are pretty tight.

Mstaszew


Could be, the one I've seen seems to put in at the Baum Bridge boat ramp across from PC.

Laszlo


My folks have friends who live in Old Nags Head Cove and I recall them mentioning that their neighbor had one and I believe he did tours, but can't be certain of it. I've seen it out several times when the weather started to warm in the spring, but he was running it solo at the time.

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By: Tim-OBX
7/27/2023 9:30 AM

It looks like one of Jamie's airboat. Here is a video from his website. No life-jackets being worn.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4...

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By: Bentmtn
7/27/2023 9:41 AM

We saw one this past Spring zipping through the sound in Frisco. Or, rather I should say...heard it first and then looked. Very very loud and it appeared that it came from the Hatteras Village area. Several people were aboard. Only time we've seen one of those at the OBX.

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By: Laszlo
7/27/2023 9:48 AM

It looks like one of Jamie's airboat. Here is a video from his website. No life-jackets being worn.

Tim-OBX


Probably flipped while doing a slide - spin just like on the YT video

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By: Beach Farmer
7/27/2023 10:19 AM

Thank God my Mother tortured me as a child with "group tours"...I literally start to kavetch and get nauseous when I see a tour guide. It's like all those people that died on the Duck boat in Philly. You're literally waiting to be sacrificed at the alter of someone else's incompetence ..if they don't cause you to commit suicide from the profound boredom first. If I'm going to get injured or die while seeking adventure I want it to be from my own stupidity. It just seems more just...

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By: jfalba
7/27/2023 11:38 AM

I’m just going by what I was told from our boats radio…that someone was stuck under the airboat and 2 face down in the water. They were expecting fatalities from the looks of the scene. Do you sign waivers before going??? Sounded like a hard turn like airboats do to give the passengers a thrilling ride. And the bottom of the Sound caught them and multiple flips.

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By: Laszlo
7/27/2023 12:11 PM

I’m just going by what I was told from our boats radio…that someone was stuck under the airboat and 2 face down in the water. They were expecting fatalities from the looks of the scene. Do you sign waivers before going??? Sounded like a hard turn like airboats do to give the passengers a thrilling ride. And the bottom of the Sound caught them and multiple flips.

jfalba


I would be very surprised if you did not have to sign one. The accident will be invested and I guessing it will find operator error lead to it flipping over. This guys business is finished

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By: Jules_NC
7/27/2023 1:08 PM



Did you go on the airboat ride with owner Jamie Moore (no relation)? I have been on an airboat in Virginia and you are very close to danger when they go fast.

Tim-OBX


Yes, we went with Jamie Moore of Outer Banks Adventures. He was training a new guide that day. I searched my email and correspondence but could not find any waiver for injury/death. Only info on refunds/reschedules. Eeek!

We never do big “spendy” things while we vacation, we are there for the beach and the change of scenery. We saw them featured on some website and decided it would be more fun & intimate than a big dolphin tour boat. Well, never again! I am so thankful we did not have an issue as we had my whole immediate family with us.

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By: rodanth3
7/27/2023 2:09 PM

There are many other options to get on the water in the OBX - rent a jet ski, rent a pontoon boat, offshore fishing, in shore, sound fishing, some sailboats, etc. Air boats are great in the Florida everglades where they are needed for a reason, but not here.

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By: DM77
7/28/2023 8:45 AM

So how "fast" are these boats? I'm guessing 40 MPH tops? "Multiple" flips sounds like it might be an exaggeration.

I've owned and been on many VERY fast boats and don't scare easily in a boat. But, watching that video makes me think I wouldn't be too comfortable riding that close to the shoreline.

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By: Beach Farmer
7/28/2023 8:59 AM

So how "fast" are these boats? I'm guessing 40 MPH tops? "Multiple" flips sounds like it might be an exaggeration.

I've owned and been on many VERY fast boats and don't scare easily in a boat. But, watching that video makes me think I wouldn't be too comfortable riding that close to the shoreline.

DM77


Especially the area west of the Oregon inlet...

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By: OceanBlue
7/28/2023 10:01 AM

The little I know of airboats (think aluminum john boat) are that the shore riding is what they are good/best at - straight running in shallow to no water. Like the Everglades.

Turning in a chop? Not so much, they'll catch an edge in a heartbeat unless you slow it way down before the turn.

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By: Laszlo
7/28/2023 10:03 AM

So how "fast" are these boats? I'm guessing 40 MPH tops? "Multiple" flips sounds like it might be an exaggeration.

I've owned and been on many VERY fast boats and don't scare easily in a boat. But, watching that video makes me think I wouldn't be too comfortable riding that close to the shoreline.

DM77


I can't imagine multiple flips. Not to say it couldn't happen but if it was shallow another to catch the bottom its flipping once

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By: Bentmtn
7/28/2023 10:06 AM

The little I know of airboats (think aluminum john boat) are that the shore riding is what they are good/best at - straight running in shallow to no water. Like the Everglades.

Turning in a chop? Not so much, they'll catch an edge in a heartbeat unless you slow it way down before the turn.

OceanBlue




I swear I thought of this show when I saw that airboat zipping through the sound! Looks like fun...except for going too fast!



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By: hoi toide
7/28/2023 11:53 AM


By: Rhaun
7/28/2023 1:31 PM

How do you fit 11 people on one of things? 1 driver - 10 passengers. They don’t look big enough.

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