What happened
On January 29, 2007, at approximately 15:50, a paramotor, identified as 41-OE, was involved in a collision with an electrical line near Sandillon, France. The pilot, a highly decorated international competitor, had departed from the Mardie ULM platform alongside a companion in a separate paramotor. The two aircraft were conducting a local flight, flying at a very low altitude over an active quarry.
During the flight, the pilot was maneuvering approximately one meter above a moving conveyor belt used for material transport. While flying through the quarry area, the canopy of the 41-OE struck an electrical line. The impact caused the pilot to become suspended from the wire, at which point the canopy ignited. The resulting fire spread to the pilot, causing severe burns. As the lines supporting the canopy failed, the pilot fell to the ground.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances of the flight and the environmental conditions at the site. The flight was unplanned, as the pilots had taken off without prior flight preparation and were not equipped with radios. While the pilots were familiar with the general area, this was their first time flying over this specific quarry.
Witness accounts indicated that the pilot's companion was flying approximately forty meters ahead of the accident aircraft. Observations suggested that the pilot's altitude was so low—nearly touching the conveyor belt—that the canopy might have even passed beneath the electrical line had the flight path been different. The investigation also noted that while paramotors are frequently seen operating over this site, the specific obstacle was not avoided.