Tug pilot did not know how to operate the vessel
A pilot on board the "Megan McB" that sailed through a dam gate before it capsized in the Mississippi River on July 3, 2013, did not know how to operate the vessel, according to a federal investigation report.
The "Megan McB" lost engine throttle control at 5:58 a.m. on July 3 while the crew was trying to move it into the main lock of Lock and Dam No. 7 in Dresbach.
Strong currents swept the vessel into gate No. 1, where it overturned, trapping and killing deckhand Tyler Trussoni, 22, of Genoa, Wisconsin, one of three crew members aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded the pilot couldn’t avoid the gate because he didn’t know how to use the tow’s electronic engine control throttle.
The investigating agency also found tow owner Brennan Marine Inc. of La Crosse didn’t have a procedure that would guarantee pilots were familiar with the electronics unique to the "Megan McB".
Brennan officials in a statement on Sep 30, 2014, called the NTSB investigation brief and said the report did not address a significant contributory factor that would have prevented the incident.
The vessel is currently undergoing repairs at a shipyard where steps were taken to assure similar accidents do not happen again. Brennan had removed its vessel from the river on July 16 after about 50 gallons of diesel fuel leaked into the water.
Damage to the "Megan McB", which remains out of service while Brennan installed air throttle controls, was estimated to be around $500,000.
A pilot on board the "Megan McB" that sailed through a dam gate before it capsized in the Mississippi River on July 3, 2013, did not know how to operate the vessel, according to a federal investigation report.
The "Megan McB" lost engine throttle control at 5:58 a.m. on July 3 while the crew was trying to move it into the main lock of Lock and Dam No. 7 in Dresbach.
Strong currents swept the vessel into gate No. 1, where it overturned, trapping and killing deckhand Tyler Trussoni, 22, of Genoa, Wisconsin, one of three crew members aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded the pilot couldn’t avoid the gate because he didn’t know how to use the tow’s electronic engine control throttle.
The investigating agency also found tow owner Brennan Marine Inc. of La Crosse didn’t have a procedure that would guarantee pilots were familiar with the electronics unique to the "Megan McB".
Brennan officials in a statement on Sep 30, 2014, called the NTSB investigation brief and said the report did not address a significant contributory factor that would have prevented the incident.
The vessel is currently undergoing repairs at a shipyard where steps were taken to assure similar accidents do not happen again. Brennan had removed its vessel from the river on July 16 after about 50 gallons of diesel fuel leaked into the water.
Damage to the "Megan McB", which remains out of service while Brennan installed air throttle controls, was estimated to be around $500,000.