A powered paraglider is a cheap, cheerful way to take to the skies. But like flying an airplane, a hang glider, or even a drone, it requires the operator to pay attention to every hazard.

It’s a lesson that a paramotor pilot can learn very quickly, like this thrillseeker hitting a power line while flying over Grand Forks, North Dakota.

This powered paraglider struck a power line while flying over a bridge in North Dakota– and it’s all on video

It’s sunset over the water. A beautiful time of day for a short flight. But it’s also a time of attention-sapping vistas and lower visibility. It can be dangerous for any low-flying aircraft, including ultralights. It’s something that one North Dakota pilot learned in a powered paraglider when he met a power line head-on.

One minute, the videographer is standing on a bridge, shooting a vertical video of the powered paraglider soaring just overhead. The “paramotor” crosses over the bridge without an issue. But just as the video-taker shifts their field of view to follow the pilot, disaster strikes. 

The powered paraglider fails to avoid a set of power lines running over the water on the other side of the bridge. A flash greets the canopy as it collapses. “Woah! Oh, no! Geez,” the smartphone user exclaims as the ultralight aircraft points down and crashes into the water.

Fortunately, the pilot survived relatively unscathed. “Fire dept fished him out, he was fine. I rode by there yesterday, and the power lines are still up,” one commenter replied authoritatively. Local water rescue did, in fact, pull the paraglider from the water soon after the crash. The only casualty: the pilot’s ego and one rad little ultralight.    

‘Paramotoring,’ like paragliding, is a popular way to slip the bonds

The vehicle in the video, a four-wheeled paramotor with a large, rear-facing fan and a canopy, isn’t exactly the stoutest aircraft. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be safe.

According to Super Fly Paragliding, the fan-equipped paramotors don’t require a formal flight license as they fall under “ultralight aviation” with the FAA. However, the popular activity isn’t without its hazards. 

Although it doesn’t require a pilot’s license, it’s always a good idea to seek training with a certified instructor. You can check out the video for yourself below!