MP crashed on private property

[cubanmetal]

I was flying near my neighborhood and then my MP just fell from the sky. It fell onto a large private property and I can see exactly the tree it hit/crashed (18 satellites locked on) in my flight log. when I contacted the home owner she said she looked for it but did not see it. And will not let me on the property to look for it, which I guess I understand...but I’ve told her I know exactly where I should be. Do I have any legal recourse because this is my property? Or am I just screeewed? Thanks in advance!

 

[Just_nick]

Have you tried contacting your local police department?

 

[mnoutdoors]

I would ask her again nicely, tell her the weather could ruin it. If that does not do it offer to be escorted by the local authorities police or sheriff. That should ease her concerns and also place the importance of the need To find it.

 

[Kxtrain]

That sucks but it isn't your proroperty. I would try asking nice again. I wonder why they wouldn't let you on there property do you know them? Have you pissed them off before. I doubt you can legally force your self on some one else's property because you crashed in there yard.. I think the best route us to try convince the owner to have some compassion for your situation.

 

[cubanmetal]

I don’t know them. I did ask nicely and am always polite. The evening I crashed I went over there, met the elderly couple, and looked briefly, hoping that the controller would reconnect and i could hear it. But it was night time and didn’t have my flashlight. Called her the next morning and was again polite but she didn’t seem like she cared very much.. I asked if I could look now that It was daytime and possibly take my time to find it because it is expensive. Flat out no, I don’t let people on my property...Apparently the neighbors said she can be quite a handful and has always been like that.

That’s what makes me think about taking legal action. Just not sure if I can? Or if anyone else has had any luck with that?

 

[cubanmetal]

Have you tried contacting your local police department?

Not yet.. was trying to feel out the situation on here and I’ve got my kiddos... so I don’t want to put them through that experience if I don’t have to.

 

[Kxtrain]

Wow wierd she let you one night and not the next. I can almost guarentee the police or any one can not force them to alow you on your property. That wouldn't make sense at all. Its not like you are starring at it in there driveway and she is refusing to give it to you. You are asking to search some ones property cause of a model air craft that you crashed on there property that would be considered not there problem. Think how much time and resources that would waist if police had to go assist every person to essentially look for there hobby plane on private property. Private property is exactly that it's thers to do what they want with. There are risks when flying these things and losing them is one of them. I think you really need permission.

 

[Just_nick]

Not yet.. was trying to feel out the situation on here and I’ve got my kiddos... so I don’t want to put them through that experience if I don’t have to.

You can do that, and they can act as a moderator for you. They can't force the lady to do anything, of course, but that is not the point. The point is that it does sometimes help the owner feel more secure that a total stranger is trying to go on their property. She may let the officers on the property, or let you on the property with them. The worst that happens is that she says no.

Alternatively, she took the drone and that is why she's being stubborn. Just a possibility, which means you should keep your eye on Craigslist and eBay if you end up not being allowed on her property, even with the police trying to help you.

 

[kakao]

I was flying near my neighborhood and then my MP just fell from the sky. It fell onto a large private property and I can see exactly the tree it hit/crashed (18 satellites locked on) in my flight log. when I contacted the home owner she said she looked for it but did not see it. And will not let me on the property to look for it, which I guess I understand...but I’ve told her I know exactly where I should be. Do I have any legal recourse because this is my property? Or am I just screeewed? Thanks in advance!

I was wondering why the MP crashed in the first place ..

Good luck with the neighbours.

 

[Squamer]

Pair of binoculars. Find it, then tie on a pair of PF flyers in slow motion, then get running boy

 

[mavic6611]

Personally I'd jump over the wall/fence at night and have a quick look if you have a good idea where it is. Doing that is nearly as naughty as her robbing your £1000 aircraft.

If you send me your flight log I'll take a look at what caused your MP to go down.

 

[locoman]

I was flying near my neighborhood and then my MP just fell from the sky. It fell onto a large private property and I can see exactly the tree it hit/crashed (18 satellites locked on) in my flight log. when I contacted the home owner she said she looked for it but did not see it. And will not let me on the property to look for it, which I guess I understand...but I’ve told her I know exactly where I should be. Do I have any legal recourse because this is my property? Or am I just screeewed? Thanks in advance!

Might teach you not to crash on or fly over private property. Also, maybe to fly high enough to clear the trees. Maybe she thinks that you trying to spy on her, if you were fly so low that you flew into a tree. I suppose you could contact the police, or get her some flowers and a box of candy.

 

[poet]

Might teach you not to crash on or fly over private property. Also, maybe to fly high enough to clear the trees. Maybe she thinks that you trying to spy on her, if you were fly so low that you flew into a tree. I suppose you could contact the police, or get her some flowers and a box of candy.

God these police posts are getting so old. No one exclusively Flys on there on property period and there's noting illegal or even wrong with flying OVER there property. It's not the same as through there property. As it now is. Do you get mad at all the commercial flights going over your house?


To op might help to print a generic map with big x on where you belive you lost it, (and take up the offers here to be sure that's where it is first, never know,) when you go next whether it's with or without police so as to show you don't intend to just search all through her "precious stuff" as well as make sure to exsplain to her the value of craft maybee mention its a hobii you and your kids do together so she doesn't just think it's some sub 100 dollor loss of typical toy, wouldn't mention the camera part though. Maybee print out your 5 dollor faa reg if you have it and maybee even make up a lanyard that sayes legal hobbiest drone operater FAA lic#..... And where it to to help show your not just some weirdo and its on the up and up. When you go. Specially if you go with police as it'd likely help you with them too. All else fails its prob bad advice and there fore is not advice but I'd likely hop the gate at 430-530 am myself and just grab it and go, but if it's not where it should be just split don't go looking. But as I said that's what I'd likely do but I'm poor and it's likely a bad idea.

 

[shb]

she's being an *** hole. especially if you told her you think you know where it is. when I lost my mavic I walked on lots of peoples property to look for it. if their were people there I asked their permission, otherwise I just did it. steve

 

[shb]

if a plane crashes on private property does the ambulance need the owners permission to help them? give me a break!

 

[cubanmetal]

Personally I'd jump over the wall/fence at night and have a quick look if you have a good idea where it is. Doing that is nearly as naughty as her robbing your £1000 aircraft.

If you send me your flight log I'll take a look at what caused your MP to go down.

Thanks 6611. I’d appreciate that. Where would I find that with my iPhone? Not sure where the files are stored.

I’d consider jumping the fence if it wasn’t for the 5 yappy little dogs outside... dead give away something is up with this person [emoji190]

 

[mavic6611]

Thanks 6611. I’d appreciate that. Where would I find that with my iPhone? Not sure where the files are stored.

I’d consider jumping the fence if it wasn’t for the 5 yappy little dogs outside... dead give away something is up with this person [emoji190]

I not too sure how to access it on ios.
If you throw a quick post up on here, these guys will know.
As soon as you pilot it on this page I'll take a look at it for you [emoji3]
She's definitely a mental case.

 

[ac0j]

She gave you an opportunity to retrieve it, you chose to do it at night and gave up before you found it.
She was reasonable at first it seems. Now you are on notice that going on her property will be trespassing.
Is this a small property or an acreage?
If it were me, I would go in in broad daylight and stay till I find the drone, and if confronted by police before I am finished, I plead ignorance. Worst case is a trespass fine if you dont damage anything on her property. Far cheaper than a new Mavic.

 

[mavic6611]

Thanks 6611. I’d appreciate that. Where would I find that with my iPhone? Not sure where the files are stored.

I’d consider jumping the fence if it wasn’t for the 5 yappy little dogs outside... dead give away something is up with this person [emoji190]

This should help you. Notice the part when he mentions the longitude and latitude GPS coordinates. Those coordinates will show your aircraft's EXACT LOCATION the moment it switched off. Put them into Google maps and BINGO you'll have located your drone. Provided she hasn't taken it into her house. Keep me posted or message me if you need anymore help. Ignore the negative comments [emoji3]

 

[Amarand]

I'm sure a lot of folks have said something similar, but it's super important, and probably bears repeating:

ALWAYS obtain property owner(s) permission along your route, which you should probably know fairly well if you're planning your flights.

(You are planning your flight routes, right?)

If you don't obtain property owner(s) permission for each property you fly over, you risk losing your drone.

My Drone Landed in Someone's Yard—Is it Theirs Now?

"And when it comes to retrieving your drone, it may come down to boring, old property law, which is largely jurisdictional. Common law states that whoever owns the property where your drone crashes can keep it, until or unless you come to retrieve it. In some places, statutes require that people turn lost personal property over to a government official, and if it has not been claimed after a period of time, the original owner’s rights expire."

So this is very much YMMV or "the law in your jurisdiction is probably different from mine" and most of us aren't lawyers - and even lawyers probably can't speak for your specific jurisdiction without research and a retainer.

And, obviously, you don't have to bring commercial, military and/or police air policy/law into it, as you're probably flying recreational, right?

If you crash your commercial drone into someone's property, you have insurance and liability and...blah.

Another article addresses this issue in greater depth:

Can Drones Fly Over Private Property? [And How to Stop Them]

It's not the flying over someone's private property that's the main concern, legally, because according to some legal experts you can't permit or deny people from flying over your property. BUT, if you takeoff or land from someone else's private property (and crashing is landing), they can sue you for trespass. Besides the fact that someone can take a picture (with GPS embedded) showing your drone on their property, your flight logs could be subpoenaed for the court case.

So it's always better to ask permission first, when you can, rather than risk getting sued and/or losing your drone. There's no guarantee you'll get it back if a property owner really wants to keep it.

P.S. Hope this isn't considered a "negative comment." I'm just trying to make sure you're aware of the liability of flying over private property without prior consent. I'm assuming this experience has taught you a valuable lesson regardless of the outcome.