During a cross-country paramotor flight in the Mojave Desert, the fuel tank loosened and shifted backward into the spinning propeller. The propeller shredded the tank, causing fuel loss, then catastrophically exploded mid-flight. The pilot successfully performed an emergency landing without power on a desert road and was rescued hours later.
Hardware failure
Maximum — exactly determined
On the second flight of a multi-day cross-country paramotor journey across the USA, the pilot noticed unusual vibrations and sounds from the motor approximately 2 hours into the flight at around 110km into a planned route from 29 Palms to Fenner. The fuel tank had loosened and shifted backward, making contact with the spinning propeller. The propeller initially shredded the tank causing fuel leakage, then made full contact resulting in a catastrophic explosion that destroyed both the propeller and fuel tank. The pilot immediately recognized the failure, announced the situation to his companion, and executed a controlled emergency glide landing without power on an isolated desert road (closed Route 66). The landing was successful with no injuries. The pilot was stranded in an extremely remote location with no vehicle traffic for hours until his companion flew to a gas station and arranged a rescue with a local worker who had just finished his shift.
Hardware failure due to improper securing or loosening of the fuel tank during flight. The tank shifted backward from its normal position and made contact with the spinning propeller. This contact initially caused the propeller to shred the tank (causing fuel loss), and then the tank made full contact with the propeller causing a catastrophic explosion that destroyed both components. The pilot had noticed vibrations earlier which were likely early warning signs of the tank movement, but the situation escalated rapidly.
Not deployed
desert road (asphalt)
Mostly correct inputs while reacting
December 14, 2025
United States
Mojave Desert, between 29 Palms and Fenner
Footlaunch
600 m
15+ km/h tailwind at altitude, strong surface winds
Clear, sunny, midday conditions near Mexican border with significant thermal activity
Strong thermal activity with rapid ascents of 7 m/s and turbulence, especially near mountains and desert terrain during midday
Transcript from German YouTube video documenting paramotor cross-country flight across USA. Day 1, second flight from 29 Palms toward Fenner (110km planned route). Approximately 2 hours into flight, pilot noticed motor vibrations and unusual sounds. Fuel tank had loosened and contacted propeller, initially shredding tank and causing fuel loss, then full contact caused catastrophic propeller explosion. Pilot performed successful emergency landing without power on closed Route 66 in remote Mojave Desert. No injuries. Stranded for several hours until companion arranged rescue. Both motors had issues - one with catastrophic failure, other with clutch malfunction preventing normal starting.