Losing control: An atypical engine control lever led a pilot to lose control of a towing vessel, resulting in it capsizing and one life lost

摘要

Last July, months after entering into service, the towing vessel Megan McB lost engine th rottle control while the crew were tryi ng to manoeuvre into the main lock of Lock and Dam 7 on the Mississippi River near La Crescent, Minnesota. Without engine throttle control, the strong river current swept the vessel into one of the dam's gates, where it became pinned and capsized. One crew member died in the accident. Damage was estimated as $0.5M.