Lake Havasu, Arizona – Terrifying moments unfolded on April 26 when a speedboat attempting to break a speed record lifted off the water and flew through the air before crashing.

Both racers miraculously walked away from the crash without serious injuries.

Their 10,000-horsepower speedboat was set up for a record-breaking run during the Desert Storm Shootout when disaster struck. Speedboat Magazine’s Ray Lee said the radar picked them up at 200.1 mph just before the boat launched into the air.

The team had arrived earlier in the week aiming to break the lake’s speed record.

Fellow competitor Jeff Clark said the racers owe their survival to the strength of the boat’s design. Clark, who has competed in speedboat shootouts for five years, explained that at high speeds, small changes can make a boat lift suddenly.

He said the sight of the boat flying was chilling and described how quickly things can go wrong when tunnel hulls pack too much air.

Both Clark and Lee suggested that windy conditions might have played a role in the crash. The wind may also have helped by keeping the boat airborne longer and softening the impact.

Lee said everyone held their breath until the racers emerged safely from the wrecked boat.

The racers, using the nicknames John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, are part of Freedom One Racing. They are from Kansas City, Missouri, and are determined to bring the speed record back to Lake Havasu, aiming for 206 mph.

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