Executive Summary
On July 4, 2014, at 1058 local time, a fire broke out in the engine room on board the 79-foot-long recreational vessel La Pietra, when the vessel was near Destruction Island, Washington.
The onboard vessel owners (husband and wife) were rescued by the US Coast Guard; the husband was treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns.
La Pietra burned to the waterline and sank with 600 gallons of diesel fuel onboard.
Probable Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the LaPietra accident was an engine room fire of unknown origin.
Contributing to the loss of the vessel was the owners’ inability to access and shut off the engine room ventilation system, which diminished the effectiveness of the fire suppression system and extinguishing efforts.