Controller Bay Airboat Incident 2025

The Cordova Ranger District (CRD) Fish Crew was conducting field work in the Controller Bay area on June 17th, 2025.

The crew visited several pre-determined field sites throughout the afternoon and returned downriver at approximately 1700. The waves and sea state had increased from what they experienced when they left Controller Bay around noon. The airboat operator reduced power and came off step to moor up for the night. The reduction of power and coming off step caused the bow to dip, allowing an initial wave and bow wake to inundate the airboat. This initial wave caused the airboat to become very heavy and further reduce the freeboard (the height of a vessel’s side between the waterline and the top rail). A second wave came over the bow which pitched the airboat to the starboard side, dumping all five passengers into the water. The airboat proceeded to sink and was entirely under the water within 15 seconds of taking the first wave.