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Oregon State Marine Board

Boating Accident Statistics
Boating Accidents in Oregon
Oregon is host to diverse, beautiful and sometimes dangerous waters that stretch from the crest of the Cascades to the deserts of eastern Oregon, the lush valleys of western Oregon and the coastal region. Boaters should make sure their skill and equipment is adequate for the waters they enter. While accidents happen for a variety of reasons, 85-90% or more of fatalities could be prevented if the victims wore life jackets. The statistics below illustrate this point very well. 
 
It's also important to note that the Marine Board is Oregon's boating agency, responsible for access, law enforcement and education for all boats.  The Marine Board tracks all boating related fatalities, motorized and manually powered.
 
Following is a summary listing of fatal boating accidents from 1996 to date.
 
Marine Board Boating Accident Reports are, by statute, confidential and not open to public or media review. Please note: recreational boating statistics do not include those deaths which happen across state lines, are commercial in nature (charter, guide, industrial, etc) or occur after a person has purposefully left the vessel (to swim, etc).  The Marine Board has adopted Federal law for Accident Reporting as it pertains to documenting accident and fatality statistics.
 
 
 
 
  
 
Nationwide Accident and Fatality Statistics

The U.S. Coast Guard has released a searchable database for nationwide accident and fatality statistics. The data represents information submitted from the 56 reporting jurisdictions - 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC) and the territories of Guam (GU), American Samoa (AS), Northern Mariana Islands (MP), Puerto Rico (PR) and the Virgin Islands (VI).

U.S. Coast Guard Searchable Database

 
​​
Oregon's Recreational Boating Statistics -at a glance
Accident and Fatality Numbers From 1990 to 2011 
  

 
Long Term Summary Listing
Year
Registered Boats
Accidents*
Fatalities
Oregon Fatality Rate**
U.S. Fatality Rate**
Fatalities
- U.S.
2012​ 169,188​ ​-- ​19 11.8 ​-- ​--
2011
171,983
66 
10 
5.8 
6.2 
758 
2010
177,152
64
12
6.8
5.4
672
180,552
65
13
7.2
5.8
736
180,063
60
13
7.2
5.6
709
184,147
66
9
4.9
5.3
685
186,497
66
20
10.7
5.6
710
187,640
74
15
8.0
5.4
697
190,142
54
8
4.2
5.3
676
197,591
74
***18
9.2
5.5
703
194,582
80
***16
8.2
5.8
750
194,615
70
14
7.2
5.3
681
194,828
100
14
7.2
5.5
701
196,102
98
16
8.2
5.8
734
197,634
120
20
10.1
6.5
815
197,315
123
19
9.6
6.7
821
1996
195,080
115
8
4.1
5.9
709
1995
191,915
144
18
9.4
7.1
829
1994
188,792
121
10
5.3
6.9
784
1993
184,007
85
25
13.6
7.1
800
1992
180,138
94
9
5.0
7.4
816
1991
177,134
110
22
12.4
8.3
924
1990
173,572
107
7
4.0
7.9
865
* It is estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of reportable accidents are actually reported.
**The Oregon Fatality Rate is based on 100,000 registered motorboats and the U.S. Fatality Rate is based on U.S. Coast Guard statistics using a rate of 100,000 boats.
*** These statistics do not reflect fatalities involving guided or commercial fishing trips.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2012 Recreational Boating Fatalities
Date
Location
Craft
Age
PFD
1
1/29/12
 Coos Bay mouth/Charleston Harbor
Auxiliary Sail 
43
N
2
3/31/12 
 Harriet Lake
Open motorboat
21 
N
3
4/14/12
 Columbia River, Wallace Island Slough
Open motorboat
35 
N
4
4/28/12 
 Chetco River
Paddle board 
39 
N
5
6/14/12 
 Odell Lake
Open motorboat 
71 
N
6
6/17/12
 McKenzie River, Martins Rapids
Canoe 
68 
N
7
7/15/12
 Pacific Ocean, near Goat Island
Open Motorboat 
68
N
8
7/19/12
 Rogue River, entrance to Hellgate Canyon
Raft
66
N
9
7/29/12 
 N Umpqua River, near Copeland Creek
Raft
16
Y
10
8/5/12 
 Deschutes River, Lava Island Falls
Raft
50 
Y
11​ ​8/12/12 ​Willamette River, Wallace Marine Park ​PWC ​38 ​Y
​12 ​8/25/12 ​McKenzie River, near Koosah Falls ​Raft ​17 ​Y
13​ ​9/1/12 ​Columbia River, Sauvie Island ​PWC ​39 ​Y
14​ ​9/4/12 ​Sandy River, near Oxbow ​Inner Tubes ​50 ​Y
15​ ​9/6/12 ​Lake Billy Chinook, Crooked River Arm ​Open Motorboat ​37 ​N
16​ ​9/6/12 ​Lake Billy Chinook, Crooked River Arm ​Open Motorboat ​73 ​N
18 12/17/12 ​Illinois River, near O'Brien Driftboat​ 30 N
18​ ​12/27/12 ​Columbia River, near Rooster Rock ​Kayak ​51 ​Y
19​ ​12/27/12 ​Columbia River, near Rooster Rock ​Kayak ​50 ​Y
​
 
​​
2011 Recreational Boating Fatalities
Date
Location
Craft
Age
PFD
1
3/26/11
McKenzie River, near McNutt Island
Drift
59
N
2
5/5/11
Willamette River, near Buena Vista
Open motorboat
52
N
3
5/20/11
 Multnomah Channel, near Coon Isl.
Open motorboat
51
N
4
6/18/11
Blue River Reservoir
PWC
20
Y
5
8/12/11
Deschutes River, near North Junction
Raft
29
N
6
8/21/11
 Willamette River, above Dorris Ranch
Raft
25
N
7
9/2/11
 Rogue River, Blossom Bar -Picket Fence
Drift
68
Y
8
9/7/11
 Rogue River, Blossom Bar -Picket Fence
Raft
68
Y
9
11/12/11
Columbia River (moored in Portland)
Sailboat
30
N
10
12/22/11
Pacific Ocean, 1 mile off Mill Beach
Open motorboat
61
N
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
2010 Recreational Boating Fatalities

Date
 Location 
 Craft
 Age
 PFD
1
3/6/10
Willamette River (at Jasper)
Canoe
50
N
2
3/22/10
Dorman Pond (near Forest Grove)
Inflatable Raft
73
N
3
3/24/10
Rogue River (near White Horse Park)
Drift
75
N
4
4/24/10
Willamette River (at Dunthorpe)
O/B
57
N
5
5/3/10
Columbia River (near 3 Mile Canyon)
Sailboard
48
N
6
7/23/10
Willamette River (near Sellwood Bridge)
Paddleboard
55
N
7
9/5/10
McKenzie River (50500 McKenzie Hwy)
Drift
63
N
8
9/24/10
Alsea Bay (near Alsea River mouth)
O/B
44
N
9
10/6/10
Pacific Ocean (near Netarts)
O/B
61
Y
10
10/6/10
Pacific Ocean (near Netarts)
O/B
67
Y
11
10/10/10
Columbia River (near Westport)
Sailboat
46
N
12
11/26/10
Willamette River (near Dayton)
O/B
49
N

 
2009 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2009 Boating Fatalities 
Date
 Location 
 Craft
 Age
 PFD
1
5/05/09
Lake Billy Chinook, near Upper Deschutes  Day Use Area
O/B
54
N
2
6/14/09
Columbia River, Wells Island N.
O/B
42
N
3
6/24/09
Pacific Ocean, N. of Del Rey Beach
Kayak
63
Y
4
6/28/09
Sprague River, Harris Ranch
Canoe
59
N
5
7/03/09
Columbia River, Wells Island N.
Paddle Board
48
N
6
8/22/09
John Day River, near LePage State Park
O/B
43
UKN
7
8/25/09
Pacific Ocean, near Newport Beach
O/B
67
N
8
8/25/09
Pacific Ocean, near Newport Beach
O/B
58
Y
9
9/14/09
Columbia River, 3 Mile Canyon
O/B
67
N
10
9/14/09
Columbia River, 3 Mile Canyon
O/B
58
N
11
10/08/09
Nehalem Bay, Wheeler
O/B
62
UNK
12
10/09/09
Rogue River, Savage Rapids Dam
I/B Jet
39
N
13
12/05/09
Netarts Bay, Happy Camp
Kayak
53
Y

 
2008 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2008 Boating Fatalities 
Date
 Location 
 Craft
 Age
 PFD
1
2/16/08
Mouth of the Nestucca River
O/B
26
N
2
2/23/08
Columbia River
O/B
54
N
3
2/23/08
Columbia River
O/B
64
N
4
2/23/08
Columbia River
O/B
52
N
5
5/6/08
Mann Lake
Drift
67
N
6
5/21/08
Willamette River
Raft
23
N
7
6/7/08
Clackamas River
Canoe
11
Y
8
6/12/08
Gilber River, Mile .75
Sail
60
N
9
7/2/08
Deschutes River, Pringle Falls
Raft
48
Y
10
7/8/08
Willow Valley Reservoir
O/B
76
N
11
7/18/08
Rogue River -2400 Block of Hwy 62
Raft
87
N
12
7/26/08
Rogue River -Blossom Bar
Raft
57
Y
13
8/31/08
Deschutes River -Pringle Falls
Canoe
27
Y

 
2007 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2007 Boating Fatalities 
Date
 Location 
 Craft
 Age
 PFD
1
1/31/07
Mouth of the Chetco River
O/B
57
N
2
4/25/07
Saunders Lake, North Bend
O/B
80
N
3
5/2/07
Wikiup Reservoir, Deschutes Co.
I/B
50
N
4
5/19/06
Columbia River
O/B
40
N
5
6/8/07
Foster Reservoir
O/B
52
N
6
6/17/07
Rogue River (RM 52)
Raft
47
Y
7
8/4/07
Brownlee Reservoir
O/B
76
N
8
8/17/07
Poison Creek Reservoir
Canoe
41
N
9
12/7/07
5 mi. NW of Siuslaw River
O/B
22
N
 
*NOTE: All but one were not wearing a life jacket.

 
2006 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2006 Boating Fatalities
Date
 Location
 Craft
 Age
 PFD
1
2/5/06
Rough & Ready Creek
Kayak
72
N
2
3/1/06
Umpqua River, Near MP 21
Mtr-O/B
54
N
3
5/9/06
Pacific Ocean
Mtr-O/B
43
N
4
5/9/06
Pacific Ocean
Mtr-O/B
44
N
5
5/9/06
Pacific Ocean
Mtr-O/B
62
N
6
6/23/06
Clackamas River, Barton Park
Raft
29
N
7
7/6/06
Deschutes River, near Maupin
Raft
17
Y
8
7/9/06
Deschutes River, Colorado Ave. Bridge
Raft
48
N
9
7/17/06
Rogue River, Rogue Elk Park
Kayak
60
N
10
7/23/06
Deschutes River, near Maupin
Raft
60
Y
11
7/24/06
Nehalem River, MP 12
Kayak
41
N
12
8/8/06
Deschutes River, near Maupin
Raft
27
N
13
8/9/06
Rogue River, near Dodge Bridge
Raft
65
N
14
8/19/06
Deschutes River, near Maupin
Raft
55
Y
15
9/5/06
Tillamook Bay
Mtr-I/B
72
N
16
9/3/06
Deschutes River, Box Car Rapids
Raft
49
N
17
11/22/06
Tillamook Bay
Mtr-O/B
63
Y
18
11/25/06
Lower Willamette River, RM 20
Mtr-O/B
51
N
19
11/27/06
Devil's Lake
Mtr-O/B
24
N
20
12/28/06
Fork of the Nehalem, near fish hatchery
Raft
72
N

 
2005 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2005 Boating Fatalities
 
 Date
 Location  Craft  Age  PFD
1 Feb 9 Alsea Bay- Bar Motorboat 70 Yes
2 Feb 9 Alsea Bay- Bar Motorboat 75 Yes
3 Feb 11 Detroit Lake Motorboat 48 No
4 May 6 Illinois River, Klondike Creek Kayak 50 Yes
5 June 26 Rogue River, Galice Chutes Raft 58 Yes
6 July 4 Willamette River, Wallace Marine Park Motorboat 36 No
7 July 15 Willamette River-Westfir Kayak 46 Yes
8 July 21 Agency Lake PWC 41 Yes
9 July 24 Columbia River- Chinook Landing Motorboat 24 No
10 July 31 McKenzie River, Mohawk confluence Kayak 34 No
11 Aug 25 Columbia River- Bar Motorboat 61 No*
12 Sept 4 Rogue River, Galice Chutes Raft 57 No*
13 Sept 10 Nestucca Bay Motorboat 41 Yes
14 Dec 31 Willamette River- North Fork Raft - Yes
15 Dec 31 Tillamook Bay Motorboat 38 No
* PFD not properly fitted and/or securely fastened.


 
2004 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2004 Boating Fatalities - (Final)
 
 Date
 Location  Craft  Age  PFD
1 June 26 Wallowa River Raft 23 Yes
2 July 15 Willow Valley Res. Motorboat 67 No
3 July 25 Columbia River Motorboat 48 **Yes
4 Aug 1 Foster Res Motorboat 37 **Yes
5 Aug 12 McKenzie River Raft na No
6 Aug14 Lake Billy Chinook Motorboat 21 No
7 Aug 18 Willamette River (Eugene) Raft 65 No
8 Sept 8 Fall Creek Reservoir Motorboat 73 No
** Deaths involved collision between boat and person being towed.

 
2003 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2003 Boating Fatalities** (Final)
 
 Date
 Location  Craft  Age  PFD
1 3-March Pacific Ocean, south of Brookings Motorboat 81 Yes
2 3-March Pacific Ocean, south of Brookings Motorboat 76 Yes
3 26-April Wickiup Reservoir Motorboat 29 No
4 2-May Umpqua R., Windy Pt. Boat Ramp Drift 64 No
5 15-June Private Pond, Jackson County Canoe 23 No
6 8-July Plat "I" Reservoir Motorboat 69 No
7 21-July Pacific Ocean, Del Rey Beach Motorboat 78 No
8 3-Aug Columbia River, Boardman Motorboat 50 No
9 9-Aug Clackamas River Kayak 29 Yes
10 12-Aug Klamath Lake Row Boat 59 No
11 22-Aug Triangle Lake Motorboat 18 No
12 26-Aug Pacific Ocean, Columbia River Motorboat 72 No
13 30-Aug Umpqua River, RM 23 Motorboat 51 Yes
14 5-Oct Pacific Ocean, Rogue R. Bar Motorboat 36 No
15 5-Oct Pacific Ocean, Rogue R. Bar Motorboat 33 No
16 10-Nov Clear Lake, Keizer Row Boat 34 No
17 10-Nov Clear Lake, Keizer Row Boat 16 No
18 23-Dec McKenzie R. Kayak 56 No
** The Taki Tooo charter boat accident June 14, 2003, claiming 11 lives, is considered a commercial accident under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard and is not counted here.
Updated 1/20/04

 
2002 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2002 Boating Fatalities (Final)
 
 Date
 Location  Craft  Age  PFD
1 2-Feb S. Umpqua River, Weaver's Rapids Drift Boat 29 No
2 2-Feb S. Umpqua River, Weaver's Rapids Drift Boat 51 No
3 16-Feb Netarts Bay Bar Motor Boat 30 No
4 23-Feb N. Umpqua River Drift Boat 52 No
5 14-April Mollala River Raft 24 Yes
6 11-May Fall Creek Reservoir Motor Boat 37 No
7* 19-June Willamette River near Lake Oswego Motor Boat 48 Yes
8 27-June Odell Lake Motor Boat 38 No
9 6-July Deschutes River, above Maupin Raft 32 No
10 11-July Willamette River, Swan Island Motor Boat 54 Yes
11 23-July Clatsop County - Delray Beach Motor Boat 47 No
12 1-Aug Columbia R., Clatsop Spit Motor Boat 72 Yes
13 10-Sep Siuslaw R., Mouth Motor Boat 82 Yes
14 10-Sep Siuslaw R., Mouth Motor Boat 74 Yes
15 13-Oct Columbia R., Chinook Landing Motor Boat 45 No
16 20-Oct Rogue R. Bar Motor Boat 50 Yes
1** 26-Mar Rogue R., Dunn Riffle Drift Boat 53 Yes
2** 18-May Pacific Ocean, near Tillamook S. Jetty Motor Boat 61 No
3** 18-May Pacific Ocean, near Tillamook S. Jetty Motor Boat 36 No
4** 4-Aug Rogue R., Coffee Pot Rapids Drift Boat 71 Yes
* Victim was parasailing at time of accident.
** These statistics do not reflect four fatalities involving people on guided fishing trips. These are technically considered "commercial" activities but because they involve recreational pursuit, we list them here.

 
2001 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2001 Boating Fatalities (Final)
 
 Date
 Location
 Craft
 Age
 PFD
1
28 - Feb
Willamette River near Eugene Canoe 49 No
2
23 - May
Emigrant Lake Kayak 29 No
3
26 - May
McKenzie River Raft 27 No
4
28 - May
Columbia R., Lady Island Mtr 53 No
5
1 - June
Santiam River Raft 59 Yes
6
10 - June
Crescent Lake Canoe 20 No
7
22 - July
Willamette R. Below Dexter Drift 43 No
8
3 - Aug
Columbia R. Umatilla Kayak 32 No
9
8 - Aug
Willamette R., MP 102 Mtr 42 No
10
9 - Aug
Hagg Lake Raft 20 No
11
11 - Sep
Pacific Ocean, Col. River Mtr 49 No
12
11 - Sep
Pacific Ocean, Cape Blanco Sail unk No
13
3 - Oct
Pacific Ocean, Tillamook Mtr 38 No
14
8 - Nov
Columbia R., Chinook Landing Mtr 80 No

 
2000 Recreational Boating Fatalities

2000 Boating Fatalities (Final)
 
 Date
 Location
 Craft
 Age
 PFD
1
25-Jan
Columbia River, near Boardman
Motor
50 Unk
2
29-May
Imnaha River, at Horse Creek Raft 8 Yes
3
10-Jun
Deer Lake Canoe 48 No
4
22-Jun Rogue River, below Casey St Pk Motor 70 No
5
24-Jun Diamond Lake Motor 57 No
6
24-Jun Columbia R., Desdemona Sands- Buoy #29 Motor 23 No*
7
4-Sep Crescent Lake Canoe 19 No
8
30-Aug Siuslaw River Motor 38 No
9
23-Jul Deschutes River Raft 43 No
10
22-Sep Tillamook Bay Mtr 73 No
11
22-Sep Tillamook Bay Mtr 70 No
12
1-Oct Columbia R., near 42nd St Sail 50 No
13
1-Oct Haystack Reservoir Mtr 66 No
 14
 13-Oct
Rogue River mouth
Mtr  42  No
* = Inflatable life vest - not activated
 
1999 Recreational Boating Fatalities

1999 Boating Fatalities
  Date
Location
Craft
Age
PFD
1
3-Jan Willamette R., Oregon City Falls
Motor
35 No
2
3-Jan Willamette R., Oregon City Falls
Motor
25 No
3
9-Jan S. Santiam R., Gills Landing, near Lebanon
Motor
13 No
4
20-Feb Rogue R., Whitehorse Park, near Grants Pass
Motor
42 No
5
20-Feb Rogue R., Whitehorse Park, near Grants Pass
Motor
37 No
6
1-Mar Bull Run River, Dodge Park
Kayak
18 Yes
7
27-May N. Umpqua R., Red's Beach
Raft
15 No
8
5-Jun Little Deschutes R.,
Canoe
66 No
9
25-Jun Pacific O., Nestucca Bar
Motor
60 No
10
13-Jul Willamette R., Bowman Park
PWC
29 Yes
11
30-Jul Rogue R., Cole M. Rivers Fish Hatchery
Kayak
46 Yes*
12
22-Aug Columbia River, Astoria
Motor
61 No
13
22-Aug Columbia River, Astoria
Motor
45 No
14
18-Oct Waldo Lake
Canoe
37 No
15
31-Oct Willamette R., Hayes Lane
Drift
83 No
16
21-Dec Pacific O., Coquille Bar
Sailboat
47 No
          *not buckled

 
1998 Recreational Boating Fatalities

1998 Boating Fatalities
Date
Location
Craft
Age
PFD
1
31-Jan
Columbia River, La Page Park
Motor 42 No
2
10-Feb
South Umpqua River, near Riddle
Canoe 28 No
3
1-Feb
South Umpqua River, Tiller
Drift 47 No
4
23-Feb
Alsea River Bar
Motor 45 No
5
23-Feb
Alsea River Bar
Motor 44 No
6
22-Mar
Illinois River, Green Wall
Raft 37 Yes
7
22-Mar
Illinois River, Green Wall
Raft 62 Yes
8
11-May
Owyhee River, Bulls Eye Rapid
Drift 57 No
9
31-May
Fern Ridge Lake
PWC 23 Yes
10
22-Jun
Detroit Lake
Motor 85 No
11
27-Jun
Lake Billy Chinook
PWC 4 Yes
12
26-Jul
Willamette River, Swan Island
Motor 19 No
13
30-Aug
Willamette River, Junction City
Canoe 45 Yes
14
3-Aug
Umpqua River
Motor 67 No
15
28-Aug
Green Peter Reservoir
Motor 19 No
16
2-Sep
Pacific Ocean, Columbia River
Motor 62 No
17
2-Sep
Pacific Ocean, Columbia River
Motor 65 No
18
4-Sep
Detroit Lake
Motor 29 No
19
14-Nov
Pacific Ocean, Columbia River
Motor 13 Yes
20
14-Nov
Pacific Ocean, Columbia River
Motor 47 Yes

 
1997 Recreational Boating Fatalities

1997 Boating Fatalities
 
Date
Location
Craft
Age
PFD
1
1-Jan
Devils Lake
Canoe 22 No
2
1-Jan
Devils Lake
Canoe 22 No
3
23-Jan
Siltcoos Lake
Canoe 19 No
4
29-Mar
Santiam River, near Lyons
Kayak 32 Yes
5
30-Mar
Fern Ridge Reservoir
Canoe 40 No
6
26-Apr
Pacific Ocean, N. of Seal Rock
Motor 79 No
7
26-Apr
Pacific Ocean, N. of Seal Rock
Motor 46 No
8
4-May
McKenzie R., Helfrich Landing
Drift 50 No
9
5-Jun
Columbia R., Dodson
Motor 68 Yes
10
17-Jun
Columbia R., Hat Rock State Park
Canoe 16 Yes
11
19-Jul
Rogue R., Copper Canyon
Jet Boat 31 No
12
19-Jul
Rogue R., Copper Canyon
Jet Boat 25 No
13
5-Aug
Green Peter Reservoir
Motor 80 Unk
14
4-Aug
Columbia R., N. Ptld. Harbor
Motor 6 No
15
11-Aug
Willamette R., N. of St. Johns Bridge
Motor 43 No
16
11-Aug
Willamette R., N. of St. Johns Bridge
Motor 27 No
17
30-Aug
John Day R., River mile one
Motor 40 No
18
4-Nov
Rogue R., Copper Canyon
Drift 47 Yes
19
13-Nov
Columbia R., Sundial
Motor 77 No