Posted on 06/16/2003 6:16:52 AM PDT by bedolido
GARIBALDI, Ore. - Federal officials say it could be months before they know why a charter fishing boat capsized in rough surf off the Oregon coast, killing at least nine people. Two men were missing and presumed dead.
Maintenance was done on the 32-foot Taki Tooo's throttle several days before the accident, said National Transportation Safety Board (news - web sites) official John Goglia, but he said that might not have any bearing on what happened.
The eight survivors, though, had vivid impressions of what caused the Saturday morning accident — in their view, a killer wave that the skipper was unable to avoid.
"We went through a couple rough waves and turned north to try to get around a pretty large wave but then it crashed into the side," said Tyler Bohnet, 28, whose father, Sigmund Bohnet, died.
The younger Bohnet said most people on the deck were tossed off the ship when the wave hit.
"I was able to swim to a life raft that was floating but I kept getting knocked off it until I couldn't get on it again," he said. "Then I tried swimming to shore until I got to shallow enough water that some men came out and helped me."
Ted Lopatkiewicz, a spokesman for the NTSB (news - web sites), said the agency was aware of reports that the Taki Tooo had turned sharply to the north before it capsized, but that they haven't made any conclusions about whether that was a factor in the accident.
Goglia said the NTSB will examine the condition of the ocean when the boat set out, as well as the boat itself and its equipment. The shell of the vessel, which washed ashore, will be moved to an undisclosed secure location.
Investigators' most definite conclusion about the capsizing at the mouth of Tillamook Bay was the importance of life jackets. The boat's orange vests were worn by all the survivors and none of those found dead.
The Taki Tooo was believed to have enough life jackets for all aboard, although passengers and crew are not required by law to wear them.
As the investigation got underway and the victims returned home Sunday, the ocean search ended for two men still missing. Coast Guard helicopters and boats stopped looking for Tim Albus, of Madras, and Barry Sundberg, of Cheney, Wash. Officials said the men could not have survived long in the 50-degree water.
"They called off the search and now they're just waiting for the tides and hoping his body is washed to shore," said Marsha Sundberg, about her husband, Barry. "I don't know what to do, whether to do a memorial service or wait for a funeral. It's just so hard."
The Taki Tooo flipped over after setting off from a harbor that had been closed to recreational boats because of waves estimated at up to 15 feet high.
Charter fishing boats were allowed to set sail, and three other commercial sport fishing vessels left from the same area Saturday morning, said Tillamook County sheriff's department Marine Deputy Paul Fournier.
Coast Guard Master Chief Lars Kent said people on the beach, including the pastor of a local church, helped pull some of the survivors from the water and help them to shore.
The survivors were treated at a hospital for hypothermia and released.
Those on board were mainly fathers, sons and grandfathers, out for a pre-Father's Day bottomfishing excursion. Several of those who died had come from many miles away — Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois — to fish the waters off Oregon's rugged coast.
The boat's captain, Doug Davis, also died. Goglia said Davis had a reputation for being very conscientious about briefing passengers on safety regulations.
In addition to Davis and Bohnet, from Collinsville, Ill., the others confirmed dead were Steve Albus of Ephrata, Wash.; Larry Frick of Spokane, Wash.; Dennis Tipton and Kathy Corley, both of Ukiah; Edward Loll of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Terry Galloway, of Portland; and Richard Hidalgo, of Green Bay, Wis.
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Associated Press writer Aviva L. Brandt in Portland contributed to this report.
Posted June 16, 2003
Capsizing victim from Bellevue remembered for humor
By Kelley Bruss
kbruss@greenbaypressgazette.com
Richard Hidalgo of Bellevue will be remembered for his sense of humor, a family member said Sunday.
“He was always on stage,” said Mary Alice Paul of Neenah. “He had great stories. He could do a thousand accents.”
Hidalgo was among the victims Saturday when a charter fishing boat capsized off the Oregon coast. Hidalgo’s wife, Susan, and his in-laws, Raymond and Gloria Paul of Allouez, were in Oregon with him, but were not on the boat.
The four had gone out West for the Pauls’ granddaughter’s graduation.
The fishing excursion “was just a little side trip,” said Mary Alice Paul of Neenah, Susan’s aunt.
Hidalgo worked as a psychologist and social worker at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.
The 53-year-old had two grown daughters, Vanessa and Veronica, from a previous marriage, said longtime friend Frank Hickey.
Hickey said Hidalgo was a Miami native and lifelong Miami Dolphins fan who also adopted his hometown Green Bay Packers. Raymond and Gloria Paul owned the former downtown Green Bay eatery Paul’s Carriage Inn.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
I operated commercial vessels for over 20 years.
I didn't always worry about the weather like I should've but I was no cowboy. The March 13, 1993 "Storm of the Century" caught me 125 miles off-shore of Marco Island. We survived in our 50' Thompson Trawler while a freighter 10 miles north of me went down. Years later found me sitting at the dock in a 72' steel hull Desco in small craft advisories, reading my weather fax instead of leaving. I became over-cautious...So I retired. I am looking for a small(36'-44')bandit boat to go out fishing on when I get time away from my new buisness.
My dad quit flying at age 75 after 62 years in the air (he started cadging lessons at age 13 from a local barnstormer). He felt like he wasn't as sharp as he used to be, so he gave it up. A lot of folks are too proud to do that, and they run into trouble.
I'm not an active pilot any more, because the demands of work and a growing family left me without enough time to keep current in a way that satisfied myself. If I didn't fly at least once or twice a week, I could see my skills eroding . . .
Agree. And, in rough water conditions, if something goes wrong with the engine while you're out there, especially in that size boat, you're screwed. Even with twin engines, most boats are very difficult to steer if one engine fails.
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