KOLR 10 News used information from a Kansas City Star article in the 5 p.m. newscast. Please read their full article, here. 

SPRINGFIELD (Kansas City Star) – Newly obtained U.S. Coast Guard records provide more proof that the Branson duck boat that sank in July, killing 17, should not have been on the wind-whipped water that evening.

Documents requested by The Star reveal that years before the tragedy on Table Rock Lake, Ride the Ducks Branson asked the Coast Guard for approval to remove a powerful water discharging pump from its fleet. The Coast Guard approved the request, but later put some conditions in place if the pump had been removed.

One of those conditions in particular stands out: The boats were not to operate on the lake if waves exceeded two feet.