The Army Corps of Engineers has banned the use of tube kites on all 16 of the lakes it manages in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

A tube kite is a large, inflatable device with a solid fabric floor that is pulled behind high-speed boats, much like water skis, but are designed to become airborne. As boat speed increases, the entire tube is lifted into the air like a kite with the rider on top.

The tube kite can unpredictably dive into the water with the equivalent force of a 70-foot drop and the rider can be thrown by a sudden slowing or stopping by the boat.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned users on June 30 that kite tubing has been blamed for at least two deaths nationwide this year, with reported injuries including broken ribs, necks and backs, as well as chest and facial injuries.

Warnings will be posted at the corps' Pittsburgh District recreation areas alerting users of the dangers associated with tube kites and advising them of the ban.

Corps rangers will ask violators to remove banned devices from lakes. Failure to heed warnings will result in citations with penalties of up to $5,000 or federal imprisonment.

District lakes where the tube kite ban is in effect include Conemaugh River Lake, Crooked Creek Lake, East Branch Clarion River Lake, Kinzua Dam/Allegheny Reservoir, Loyalhanna Lake, Mahoning Creek Lake, Shenango River Lake, Tionesta Lake, Union City Dam and Reservoir, Woodcock Creek Lake and Youghiogheny River Lake in Pennsylvania; Berlin Lake, Michael J. Kirwan Dam and Reservoir and Mosquito Creek Lake in Ohio and Stonewall Jackson Lake and Tygart Lake in West Virginia.