Horror Effect Image
129

The Death Trap

Ride the Ducks Intl. / Miss Majestic

A tourism industry’s ugly past is revealed after a “duck boat” sinks on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, during a storm.

Prelude: The sinking of Miss Majestic in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

OTHER WAYS TO LISTEN:

Text
Circle

Music performed by Deformr

Sources

Hide
  1. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jul/20/nearly-20-years-ago-duck-boat-sank-hot-springs-lak/
  2. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/13-dead-in-boat-accident/
  3. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR0201.pdf
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20151112033859/http://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/Sinking_of_the_U.S._Small_Passenger_Vessel_Miss_Majestic_in_Lake_Hamilton_Hot_Springs_Arkansas_on_May_1_1999.aspx
  5. https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/boards/dukw.pdf
  6. http://www.tmba.tv/trial-graphics/maritime-investigations/miss-majestic/
  7. http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20100723_Recalling_Arkansas_Duck-boat_tragedy_from_1999__and_the_NTSB_report.html
  8. http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_11fac5b0-8c4d-11e8-a221-e33cff13f7c1.html?fbclid=IwAR2Mr6XSI3vnsyBnItmXk9MJHp0YW2XCYT9_I8EFqX5zFe6gA9WCTpU76WA
  9. http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_c6d40546-e378-11e8-aa25-dfda61a4c7ce.html
  10. http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_eb65d908-44fc-11e9-8782-cb1187894e4e.html
  11. http://www.ky3.com/content/news/NTSB-looks-at-weather-reports-given-to-boat-crew-488815241.html
  12. https://apnews.com/article/420785b69c8f264a7f0048e580bee3bf
  13. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IN10932.pdf
  14. https://fox2now.com/2018/09/04/indiana-woman-who-lost-family-on-duck-boat-files-lawsuit/
  15. https://weather.com/news/news/2018-07-19-missouri-boat-crash-deaths-table-rock-lake-branson
  16. https://weather.com/news/news/2018-07-20-missouri-fatal-boat-crash-table-rock-lake-branson
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20060716103554/http://www.bransonducks.com/experience-fun/equipment.asp
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20060716103723/http://www.bransonducks.com/experience-fun/faqs.asp
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20060718040307/http://www.bransonducks.com/experience-fun/default.asp
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20060718075413/http://www.bransonducks.com/about/
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20180516223124/http://bransonducks.com:80/experience/
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712000038/http://www.bransonducks.com:80/
  23. https://web.archive.org/web/20180721231735/https://www.bransonducks.com/
  24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003939/http://www.bransonducks.com/
  25. https://web.archive.org/web/20180723200342/http://www.kmov.com/story/38707444/duck-boat-company-to-pay-for-funeral-expenses-hospital-bills-for-those-involved-in-crash
  26. https://web.archive.org/web/20180801132824/http://bransonducks.com/
  27. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/in-case-you-missed-it-tornado-devastates-marshalltown-iowa-tragic-duck-boat-accident-kills-17-in-missouri/346909
  28. https://www.ajc.com/news/local/stone-mountain-park-suspends-duck-boats-after-missouri-tragedy/3NOvYRZE7JhAWXWpogVfaJ/
  29. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_0175652c-5132-11eb-8d9e-9fed1330ffa1.html
  30. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_177e58d8-a248-11e8-8a07-abc8cf00ec83.html
  31. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_2c762364-8bbf-11e8-a9d0-4717c92637dc.html
  32. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_37444d18-b84a-11e8-a9d8-3b29a3ec1764.html
  33. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_53af5348-066a-11ea-84b9-a72ff8b67f8c.html
  34. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_5c9814ce-8999-11ea-8368-0b68d280b1cc.html
  35. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_641ca36c-e4f1-11e7-ae90-9348a8473de0.html
  36. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_7cf12ede-91c7-11e8-ad9f-d360cd307011.html
  37. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_811d9ff4-a7f8-11e9-89d5-03f67875d8fa.html
  38. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_a54ccf9e-b510-11ec-95a4-17013616067d.html
  39. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_c9cdc55c-186f-11ea-af53-5fe87b48adc7.html
  40. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_c9d50734-941f-11e8-a8b2-af1fd558bd17.html
  41. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_d2acdd60-91e4-11e8-a774-83a44e74b005.html
  42. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_d5d0bd54-8d6b-11e8-b5ff-4757279768b6.html
  43. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_f2dfc958-4b70-11e9-8303-57d983833dd7.html
  44. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news/local/article_1be7b0b2-59e8-11ec-b7c3-63f313e92d17.html
  45. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news/local/article_2d751b54-817c-11e9-a80b-87db5f5ade20.html
  46. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news/local/article_6d50df60-a6fd-11ed-8a0a-cf93949f5ad7.html
  47. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news/local/article_cd4520a6-b2ca-11e8-9f69-b3bdd81023cf.html
  48. https://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news/local/article_e167f2b4-b746-11ec-8951-e734610a54a1.html
  49. https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/20/us/missouri-boat-incident/index.html
  50. https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/27/us/ntsb-timeline-deadly-duck-boat-sinking/index.html
  51. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/991920/missouri-boat-tragedy-duck-boat-capsized-storm-table-rock-lake
  52. https://fox59.com/2018/07/20/several-members-of-indiana-family-among-those-killed-in-branson-duck-boat-crash/
  53. https://www.foxnews.com/us/missouri-duck-boats-dead-include-children-and-9-members-of-one-family
  54. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/duck-boat-captain-indicted-misconduct-negligence-resulting-17-deaths-table-rock-lake
  55. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/two-more-ripley-employees-indicted-misconduct-negligence-resulting-17-deaths-table-rock
  56. https://www.kansascity.com/latest-news/article215264395.html
  57. https://www.kansascity.com/news/article215253430.html
  58. https://www.kansascity.com/news/article215303750.html
  59. https://www.kansascity.com/news/article215612975.html
  60. https://www.kansascity.com/news/article260138155.html
  61. https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article237334534.html
  62. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article215235950.html
  63. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article232609512.html
  64. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article247578585.html
  65. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article217514420.html
  66. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article217665200.html
  67. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article217936075.html
  68. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article218279835.html
  69. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article220041850.html
  70. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article221142710.html
  71. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article224926540.html
  72. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article231798973.html
  73. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article256435786.html
  74. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article260390097.html
  75. https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article215639390.html
  76. https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article225951545.html
  77. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article215433605.html
  78. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article215435210.html
  79. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article215465815.html
  80. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article215845505.html
  81. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article247258879.html
  82. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article270115157.html
  83. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215212175.html
  84. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215214295.html
  85. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215219170.html
  86. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215220825.html
  87. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215221675.html
  88. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215221845.html
  89. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215222260.html
  90. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215228000.html
  91. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215233100.html
  92. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215236095.html
  93. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215244600.html
  94. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215244675.html
  95. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215250015.html
  96. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215257665.html
  97. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215261445.html
  98. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215262435.html
  99. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215268300.html
  100. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215271250.html
  101. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215281150.html
  102. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215284740.html
  103. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215287760.html
  104. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215298790.html
  105. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215303920.html
  106. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215335845.html
  107. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215351040.html
  108. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215351275.html
  109. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215382405.html
  110. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215454800.html
  111. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215525290.html
  112. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215541805.html
  113. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215671830.html
  114. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215752090.html
  115. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215757310.html
  116. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215765040.html
  117. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215766495.html
  118. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215767540.html
  119. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215788855.html
  120. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215791795.html
  121. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215930835.html
  122. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article216232630.html
  123. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article216837125.html
  124. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article217073595.html
  125. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article217790645.html
  126. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article219325980.html
  127. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article220943165.html
  128. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article220970640.html
  129. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article222079715.html
  130. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article227425394.html
  131. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article228222744.html
  132. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article228421514.html
  133. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article230507459.html
  134. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article232439110.html
  135. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article232440778.html
  136. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article232518537.html
  137. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article237323339.html
  138. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article242341511.html
  139. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article245558905.html
  140. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article248367550.html
  141. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article252793368.html
  142. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article256400501.html
  143. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article256443321.html
  144. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article256452661.html
  145. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article256461241.html
  146. https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article256463796.html
  147. https://www.kait8.com/2025/03/11/captain-deadly-ride-duck-boat-tragedy-branson-mo-asks-judge-dismiss-case
  148. https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/branson-duck-boat-accident-stirs-memories-of-lake-hamilton-tragedy/1312676688
  149. https://www.kmbc.com/article/criminal-charges-including-involuntary-manslaughter-filed-nearly-three-years-after-duck-boat-tragedy/37048732
  150. https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/grand-jury-indicts-captain-of-missouri-tourist-boat-that-sank-and-killed-17-people/612641721
  151. https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/100m-lawsuit-filed-on-behalf-of-branson-duck-boat-victims/63-578613063
  152. https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/branson-duck-boat-tragedy-17-dead-all-passengers-accounted-for/63-575837245
  153. https://www.ky3.com/2020/09/06/federal-judge-recommends-dismissal-of-criminal-charges-in-duck-boat-case/
  154. https://www.ky3.com/2020/12/03/judge-dismisses-criminal-counts-in-missouri-duck-boat-deaths/
  155. https://www.ky3.com/2021/07/16/stone-co-prosecutor-missouri-attorney-general-files-63-new-charges-against-3-ride-ducks-tragedy/
  156. https://www.ky3.com/2022/04/05/judge-dismisses-state-charges-against-3-ride-ducks-employees-2018-tragedy/
  157. https://www.ky3.com/2022/04/14/charges-refiled-branson-duck-boat-tragedy-us-senate-considers-bill-calling-safety-improvements/
  158. https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Meteorologists-say-derecho-likely-what-hit-Branson-area-the-night-of-Duck-Boat-sinking-489684061.html
  159. https://www.ky3.com/content/news/NTSB-Coast-Guard-ignored-duck-boat-safety-proposals-564871222.html
  160. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/breaking-news/2018/07/20/owner-branson-boat-company-shouldnt-have-been-water/806322002/
  161. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/07/20/before-mass-casualty-near-branson-duck-boats-had-history-fatalities/804987002/
  162. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/07/20/duck-boat-weather-service-alert-looming-storm-disaster-issued-missouri-table-rock-lake/806702002/
  163. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/20/630709585/at-least-8-dead-others-missing-after-tour-boat-sinks-in-missouri-lake
  164. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/20/630787993/update-on-duck-boat-accident-in-missouri
  165. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/20/630828768/dive-teams-search-missouri-lake-for-more-bodies-after-tour-boat-capsizes
  166. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/20/630921372/17-people-dead-after-duck-boat-accident-in-missouri
  167. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/20/630921379/critics-say-calls-to-change-duck-boat-designs-have-gone-unheeded
  168. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/23/631505180/coast-guard-raises-duck-boat-that-capsized-in-missouri
  169. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/23/631575502
  170. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/27/633261191/duck-boat-tours-final-minutes-chronicled-in-preliminary-ntsb-report
  171. https://www.npr.org/2018/11/08/665762563/duck-boat-captain-indicted-in-missouri-lake-accident-that-killed-17
  172. https://www.npr.org/2019/11/14/779120796/ntsb-says-coast-guard-ignored-duck-boat-safety-recommendations
  173. https://www.npr.org/2020/04/29/847714181/ntsb-missouri-duck-boat-sinking-that-killed-17-could-have-been-avoided
  174. https://www.npr.org/2022/04/15/1093066286/missouri-duck-boat-accident-charges
  175. https://www.npr.org/631955503
  176. https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/Sinking_of_the_U.S._Small_Passenger_Vessel_Miss_Majestic_in_Lake_Hamilton_Hot_Springs_Arkansas_on_May_1_1999.aspx
  177. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/pages/DCA18MM028.aspx
  178. https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20191113.aspx
  179. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/travel/escapes/29ahead.html
  180. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/us/branson-boat-capsize-missouri.html
  181. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/20/us/duck-boat-branson-accident.html
  182. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/21/us/coleman-duck-boat-branson.html
  183. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/us/duck-boats-lawsuit-branson.html
  184. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/us/duck-boat-sinking-lawsuit.html
  185. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/duck-boat-missouri-lake-indictment.html
  186. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/13/us/duck-boat-accident-coast-guard.html
  187. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/16/us/missouri-duck-boat-deaths.html
  188. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/05/us/missouri-duck-boat-charges-dropped.html
  189. https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000006017181/17-killed-in-duck-boat-accident-in-missouri.html
  190. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-missouri-boat/two-victims-leave-hospital-after-missouri-tour-boat-tragedy-idUSKBN1KB0LS
  191. https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/missouri-duck-boat-accident-leaves-17-dead-including-children/
  192. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/07/20/branson-duck-boat-accident-what-happened/806195002/
  193. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/07/20/duck-boat-amphibious-vehicle-regulations/807244002/
  194. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/07/19/at-least-8-reported-dead-as-duck-boat-capsizes-near-branson-mo-divers-search-for-survivors/
  195. https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/04/30/ntsb-branson-duck-boat-disaster-weather/
  196. https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/Table_Rock_Lake_Derecho.pdf
  197. https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2018-07-20-missouri-duck-boat-table-rock-lake-weather-timeline
  198. https://www.wptv.com/news/national/tragedy-at-table-rock-lake-timeline-of-events
Load more
128: The Charade

go to
the next episode Icon

128

The Charade

Scott W. Rothstein / Melissa Britt Lewis