Final moments of duck boat tragedy possibly captured, obtained by investigators

An “onboard video recorder” is in the hands of federal investigators in Washington D.C., one day after the swamped duck boat was lifted out of Table Rock Lake.

“(The recorder) is in the process of being dried out and then will be downloaded and analyzed,” said Keith Holloway, a National Transportation and Safety Board public relations officer.

Investigators hope to gain a better understanding of the final maneuvers of the half-water, half-land vessel from the footage on the recording device.

The NTSB will release a preliminary report in the next few weeks, and a full report is expected to take up to a year to complete. A release date has not been set for either report.

The duck boat tour company involved in the tragedy, Ride the Ducks, has been closed since the swamping occurred Thursday evening. Coast Guard spokesperson Alana Miller says the company closed on its own and could reopen.

Officials with Ripley Entertainment, the parent company of Ride the Ducks, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The duck boat was recovered Monday after Thursday’s storm, which resulted in the deaths of 17 of the 31 passengers on board.