Accident Database

Report ID#66499

2001-08-12
accident date
Jonathan McKnight
victim
30
victim age
Hiwassee
river
2. Appalachia Powerhouse to Bridge at Reliance
section
n/a
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
II
river difficulty
Equipment Trap
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Inexperience
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

Jonathan McKnight, 30, died on August 12th on Tennessee’s Class I-II Hiwassee River. A Chattanooga, TN newspaper reported that his “fishing tube” flipped below Appalachia Powerhouse. McKnight then floated head-down, despite his PFD, and drowned. His brother also flipped his tube, but was pulled upright by a friend. Fishing tubes have been implicated in several other deaths on the Hiwassee, and local outfitters warn that they are not suitable for moving water. There is no possibility of a quick release if the tube flips or becomes snagged. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33801