DJI Mini 2 is a fire breathing dragon

izometric · Mar 7, 2021

You know how they say you really need to try in order to crash a DJI drone? Well, that's true and I have a video to prove that.

I was flying the drone in the forest. At some point I ended the forward motion and left the drone hovering next to a very small thin tree, barely visible.

I then wanted to turn the drone around and hit the yaw stick, or so I thought. But like any stupid accident caused by human error, I hit the left pan stick instead. And the drone went full speed into the top of the tree, into some very thin branches. I remember seeing this like in slow motion even though it happened in a blink of an eye. At that moment I thought the drone is a goner.

However, to my total disbelief, the drone flipped over in mid-air exactly like flipping a pancake, and it instantly stabilized itself and stopped the fall hovering.

I can only imagine the probably 1000+ calculations that the processor did in that blink of an eye, decided which rotations and which translations on all 3 space axis must be compensated for, sent the command to the motors and spun them fast enough to stop the fall.

I landed the drone and to my surprise there was absolutely no damage to be seen. The drone hit the branches with the body, the propellers completely missed them.

So yes, the DJI Mini 2 is a fire breathing dragon, it may be small but it is formidable.

Edit: I tried to upload the video here but it won't work. I will come back with a different upload method.

Edit 2: Video can be accessed here:

DJayI · Mar 7, 2021

izometric said:
You know how they say you really need to try in order to crash a DJI drone? Well, that's true and I have a video to prove that.

I was flying the drone in the forest. At some point I ended the forward motion and left the drone hovering next to a very small thin tree, barely visible.

I then wanted to turn the drone around and hit the yaw stick, or so I thought. But like any stupid accident caused by human error, I hit the left pan stick instead. And the drone went full speed into the top of the tree, into some very thin branches. I remember seeing this like in slow motion even though it happened in a blink of an eye. At that moment I thought the drone is a goner.

However, to my total disbelieve, the drone flipped over in mid air exactly like flipping a pancake, and it instantly stabilized itself and stopped the fall hovering.

I can only imagine the probably 1000+ calculations that the processor did in that blink of an eye, decided which rotations and which translations on all 3 space axis must be compensated for, sent the command to the motors and spun them fast enough to stop the fall.

I landed the drone and to my surprise there was absolutely no damage to be seen. The drone hit the branches with the body, the propellers completely missed them.

So yes, the DJI Mini 2 is a fire breathing dragon, it may be small but it is formidable.

Edit: I tried to upload the video here but it won't work. I will come back with a different upload method.

Be careful, I expect that tree will want to get even.

old man mavic · Mar 7, 2021

@izometric ,dont forget the disclaimer ,no trees were harmed during this incident

izometric · Mar 7, 2021

Video is now added to the first post.

DJayI · Mar 7, 2021

izometric said:
Video is now added to the first post.

After an exhaustive, Zapruder-level inspection of the video, I am convinced that tree did not act alone.

Yogi053 · Mar 7, 2021

Yep, them pesky mobile trees, forever jumping out in front of you when flying.

izometric · Mar 7, 2021

No more flying through the trees for me. There is no real cinematography value in this (too many people are doing it), it is far riskier than the possible return (for me at least) and the thin branches that can easily be observed in a FHD video are not so visible on an iPhone display in a bright sunny day.

DJayI · Mar 7, 2021

Who could blame you, near death of drone events can have that effect on a person.
Luck was with you that day.

Jim Flannery K0UNX · Mar 7, 2021

That feature is called the "Somersault." I've done that with Mavics and Skydio 2. It is a really neat feat.

AVLJMA · Mar 7, 2021

izometric said:
You know how they say you really need to try in order to crash a DJI drone? Well, that's true and I have a video to prove that.

I was flying the drone in the forest. At some point I ended the forward motion and left the drone hovering next to a very small thin tree, barely visible.

I then wanted to turn the drone around and hit the yaw stick, or so I thought. But like any stupid accident caused by human error, I hit the left pan stick instead. And the drone went full speed into the top of the tree, into some very thin branches. I remember seeing this like in slow motion even though it happened in a blink of an eye. At that moment I thought the drone is a goner.

However, to my total disbelief, the drone flipped over in mid-air exactly like flipping a pancake, and it instantly stabilized itself and stopped the fall hovering.

I can only imagine the probably 1000+ calculations that the processor did in that blink of an eye, decided which rotations and which translations on all 3 space axis must be compensated for, sent the command to the motors and spun them fast enough to stop the fall.

I landed the drone and to my surprise there was absolutely no damage to be seen. The drone hit the branches with the body, the propellers completely missed them.

So yes, the DJI Mini 2 is a fire breathing dragon, it may be small but it is formidable.

Edit: I tried to upload the video here but it won't work. I will come back with a different upload method.

Edit 2: Video can be accessed here:

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Wow!, That's impressive. Gotta love the Mini 2.

tlswift58 · Mar 7, 2021

Air2 is the same. Have hit a few small branches and waited for the proverbial drone drop / crash - when all the sudden it corrected itself and recovered quite nicely. Doesn't mean my blood pressure did not jump to 200 though.

Have the "tree" not seen issue a lot here in Western NC in winter. Even with me looking around for obstacles before flight and what "I" think is a good / safe flight path - well those small limbs do seem to show up. Not bad when moving towards them, as the sensors tend to pick them up nicely - but with no side sensors - if I'm scooting left or right for a better view of my subject - there is not alarm going off to let me know.

Also if you fly and od video in 2-4x mode - those branches do look way closer than they truly are and you have the split second OH CRAP mode hit.

I do like flying in winter due to less foliage and cover, but at same time - with no leaves and such - hard to gauge how close you truly are to the most smallest limbs hanging out there.

reaperman · Mar 7, 2021

I'll bet you can do it again! This time have someone take a separate video of the drone in action.

Laggard · Mar 7, 2021

There’s an amazing amount of technology packed into a small package.

NG Wildman · Mar 9, 2021

I had a similar incident while showing a potential new droner how to fly mine. I said, "Don't worry, you can't hurt it".... yeah, I really said that...54 years old and I still said that. Les than 10 seconds later he did exactly the opposite of what I had shown him and we had a nice account of several branches and at least 2 flips. But she kept on flying. I saw someone post not to but a Mini2 because it was a toy. I protest: it is like a little tank in the air compared to the Mini (which I still love). Those two-piece props really make a difference too. Nice video.

BD0G · Mar 13, 2021

Who says the Mavic Mini 2 cant fly freestyle and do barrel rolls! I think you just found a way to freestyle the Mini2 !

TS_Thomas02 · Mar 14, 2021

DJayI said:
After an exhaustive, Zapruder-level inspection of the video, I am convinced that tree did not act alone.

Perhaps some small inconspicuous shrubs present on the grassy knoll were involved.

TS_Thomas02 · Mar 14, 2021

izometric said:
You know how they say you really need to try in order to crash a DJI drone? Well, that's true and I have a video to prove that.

I was flying the drone in the forest. At some point I ended the forward motion and left the drone hovering next to a very small thin tree, barely visible.

I then wanted to turn the drone around and hit the yaw stick, or so I thought. But like any stupid accident caused by human error, I hit the left pan stick instead. And the drone went full speed into the top of the tree, into some very thin branches. I remember seeing this like in slow motion even though it happened in a blink of an eye. At that moment I thought the drone is a goner.

However, to my total disbelief, the drone flipped over in mid-air exactly like flipping a pancake, and it instantly stabilized itself and stopped the fall hovering.

I can only imagine the probably 1000+ calculations that the processor did in that blink of an eye, decided which rotations and which translations on all 3 space axis must be compensated for, sent the command to the motors and spun them fast enough to stop the fall.

I landed the drone and to my surprise there was absolutely no damage to be seen. The drone hit the branches with the body, the propellers completely missed them.

So yes, the DJI Mini 2 is a fire breathing dragon, it may be small but it is formidable.

Edit: I tried to upload the video here but it won't work. I will come back with a different upload method.

Edit 2: Video can be accessed here:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Who needs the new FPV when you can do this with a Mini!