How to avoid common drone crashes

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 10, 2023

Recently shot a video on how to avoid 5 of the most common ways beginner drone pilots crash (i.e. how i've crashed over the years

) complete with as much crash footage as I could pull together.

Interested to hear what some of the most common crashes are in ya'll's experience, and maybe some tips on avoiding them.

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mobilehomer · Jan 10, 2023

The number one thig is HEED THE WARNINGS!!! They come up for a reason. Check your props often, they can and do break.

old man mavic · Jan 10, 2023

and remember folks 99.99% of crashes are down to operator error

Yorkshire_Pud · Jan 10, 2023

old man mavic said:
and remember folks 99.99% of crashes are down to operator error

and perhaps a lack of common sense?????

Meta4 · Jan 10, 2023

FlyingFilmmaker said:
Recently shot a video on how to avoid 5 of the most common ways beginner drone pilots crash (i.e. how i've crashed over the years) complete with as much crash footage as I could pull together.

.

That could all be summarised as flying close to obstacles is risky.
Avoid flying close to things you can crash into.
It's hard to get into trouble when there's nothing to hit.

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 10, 2023

mobilehomer said:
The number one thig is HEED THE WARNINGS!!! They come up for a reason. Check your props often, they can and do break.

Very, very true! And props can accumulate ice on them, as I learned after one warning I ignored almost too long...

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 10, 2023

old man mavic said:
and remember folks 99.99% of crashes are down to operator error

So true!! Drones rarely just decide to crash on their own.

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 10, 2023

Yorkshire_Pud said:
and perhaps a lack of common sense?????

Well, that definitely is part of the equation many times.

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 10, 2023

Meta4 said:
That could all be summarised as flying close to obstacles is risky.
Avoid flying close to things you can crash into.
It's hard to get into trouble when there's nothing to hit.

That's often true. If you simply stick to 400 feet at all times (besides takeoff and landing) there isn't much to crash into. Unless you're flying in the mountains, and then you still have to pay attention, even at 400 feet.

SethB · Jan 10, 2023

I always prefer to film my pull away shots flying forwards, then reverse the shot in editing.

This doesn’t work if people are walking, or cars driving, or waves etc in the shot, but can really save some time and trouble and reduce risk too when circumstances are right.

mobilehomer · Jan 10, 2023

Oh, the MOST important of all RTFM!!! Many times! Pay attention to the warning triangles.

Fadly · Jan 10, 2023

According to some, it is Mini 2.
RTH altitude is not set properly.
Operator let the drone out of his line of sight. He flew the drone behind the building.

lensimages · Jan 11, 2023

FlyingFilmmaker said:
Recently shot a video on how to avoid 5 of the most common ways beginner drone pilots crash (i.e. how i've crashed over the years) complete with as much crash footage as I could pull together.

Interested to hear what some of the most common crashes are in ya'll's experience, and maybe some tips on avoiding them.

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Am I just lucky , I have flown DJI drones from the Phantom 2 , I at the moment fly the Inspire, a Phantom 4Pro, the Mavic 2 Pro , the mini 2 and now the mini 3 Pro, never crashed any of them, I am in the U.K. a Welshman one of gods chosen, fellow fliers that have suffered a crash have my sympathy, I always update software and drone, I do a pre flight test / check, hover and check all controls are working , if happy I fly. Nearly always once a week, weather permitting . Hope now I’ve said that my luck continues and I haven’t cursed myself , cheers Len

Yorkshire_Pud · Jan 11, 2023

FlyingFilmmaker said:
That's often true. If you simply stick to 400 feet at all times (besides takeoff and landing) there isn't much to crash into. Unless you're flying in the mountains, and then you still have to pay attention, even at 400 feet.

and at that height you risk putting your drone up into high wind, waste power in the climb and descent and probably can not legally fly over any ground that slopes down from the launch point,

old man mavic · Jan 11, 2023

@lensimages ,hi Len you may be onto something there ,i like you are going to tempt fate ,no crashes for me also in 5 years of flying DJI drones
must be something in the air around here

lensimages · Jan 11, 2023

old man mavic said:
@lensimages ,hi Len you may be onto something there ,i like you are going to tempt fate ,no crashes for me also in 5 years of flying DJI drones
must be something in the air around here

Cause we are Welsh

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 11, 2023

SethB said:
I always prefer to film my pull away shots flying forwards, then reverse the shot in editing.

This doesn’t work if people are walking, or cars driving, or waves etc in the shot, but can really save some time and trouble and reduce risk too when circumstances are right.

Excellent point! I do that all the time, probably over half of my pull back shots are reversed. Should have put that in the video.

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 11, 2023

lensimages said:
Am I just lucky , I have flown DJI drones from the Phantom 2 , I at the moment fly the Inspire, a Phantom 4Pro, the Mavic 2 Pro , the mini 2 and now the mini 3 Pro, never crashed any of them, I am in the U.K. a Welshman one of gods chosen, fellow fliers that have suffered a crash have my sympathy, I always update software and drone, I do a pre flight test / check, hover and check all controls are working , if happy I fly. Nearly always once a week, weather permitting . Hope now I’ve said that my luck continues and I haven’t cursed myself , cheers Len

Wow, that's pretty incredible! I wish I could say the same, haha. Must be some kind of Welsh magic?

FlyingFilmmaker · Jan 11, 2023

Yorkshire_Pud said:
and at that height you risk putting your drone up into high wind, waste power in the climb and descent and probably can not legally fly over any ground that slopes down from the launch point,

True... And the shots at 400 feet are sometimes less interesting than lower altitudes... So I fly lower where there are obstacles.