3 The Saddest Drone

[akdrone]

He died in the line of duty, alone and lost with his good propeller spinning in the wind. He could not be recovered. Sad.

 

[UAV Ernst]

He died in the line of duty, alone and lost with his good propeller spinning in the wind. He could not be recovered. Sad.
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Not going to post a "Like" on this sad event, AKdrone. Which one of your troop died in the line of duty and why, pray tell?

 

[akdrone]

That was actually my buddies Mavic 3. He side slipped it into a snowy mountain side while filming forward. He was shocked that the obstacle avoidance didn't detect a pure white field of snow. Humorously we came back later in the spring/early summer and he was actually hoping to find it after it would have tumbled down the melted mountainside but alas, it's Alaska. I laughed at him when he told me we were going to find it and I laughed again when we got in the area. The mountainside was still white and this time he obviously could no longer see the drone nor walk up the mountainside in 20 feet of snow. It was the entire day's worth of video he had taken that really killed him. Now we both tend to change out our sd cards more often.

 

[UAV Ernst]

That was actually my buddies Mavic 3. He side slipped it into a snowy mountain side while filming forward. He was shocked that the obstacle avoidance didn't detect a pure white field of snow. Humorously we came back later in the spring/early summer and he was actually hoping to find it after it would have tumbled down the melted mountainside but alas, it's Alaska. I laughed at him when he told me we were going to find it and I laughed again when we got in the area. The mountainside was still white and this time he obviously could no longer see the drone nor walk up the mountainside in 20 feet of snow. It was the entire day's worth of video he had taken that really killed him. Now we both tend to change out our sd cards more often.

Ouch, an expensive mistake. I’m sure you felt the sympathy pain. I too have lost such a bird and it now resides with the salmon at the bottom of Stamp Falls on Vancouver Island.

 

[Bad Santa]

I'm curious. If you could see it, why couldn't you retrieve it?

 

[HoozierDroneDaddy]

I'm curious. If you could see it, why couldn't you retrieve it?

He said deep snow. Maybe no snow shoes or the incline was not safe for a snow mobile.

 

[Bad Santa]

I just think there's got to be a way to get a second drone to carry a fishing line to the crashed one. Even if the second drone were to "land" the fishing line (with a net or hook) on the first drone, then drag both drones back.
Or something...

I know people aren't usually carrying a couple drones out but they knew where it was and could have come back the next day (weather permitting) with someone with a bigger drone for a rescue.

Just wondering.

 

[slowpony]

A really great decision by both of you guys to not take a chance of risking a human life for a drone.
Did the thought of trying to retrieve it using another large drone with a string. It appears it might have been a halfway easy retrieval with a string loop; other than if it was frozen into the snow, which might have resulted in two lost drones, and if that would have happened, next step would have attempted to hire an Alaskan Helicopter pilot to retrieve both drones with the rope loop method.
There would be no way that I could sleep at night knowing that my best friend is out there stuck in the cold snow with his arms in the air yelling, please help me, I am freezing. I am really sorry for your loss of this really, really nice drone.

 

[akdrone]

I'm curious. If you could see it, why couldn't you retrieve it?

yeah...snow maybe 20feet deep (on a relatively steep slope). Not even approachable.

 

[akdrone]

I just think there's got to be a way to get a second drone to carry a fishing line to the crashed one. Even if the second drone were to "land" the fishing line (with a net or hook) on the first drone, then drag both drones back.
Or something...

I know people aren't usually carrying a couple drones out but they knew where it was and could have come back the next day (weather permitting) with someone with a bigger drone for a rescue.

Just wondering.

We talked about that kind of thing but it was about a 6hr drive to get where where we were and work on the North Slope prevented a return any time soon.

 

[Chip]

That is a great photo and story. A testament to the grit and courage of the Mavic 3. And to sharing adventure with friends in the outdoors.

 

[Galopin]

He died in the line of duty, alone and lost with his good propeller spinning in the wind. He could not be recovered. Sad.
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I don’t understand. A good back country skier can retrieve this drone in a smile…Was this picture taken by a drone or a long telephoto from a road side? The drone is right there. Grab it! The slope doesn’t look that steep and dangerous…A skier from Quebec 30 feet deep snow areas in Monts Valin, Saguenay flying a Mini 4 Pro. I’m only 85.

 

[Nanny Ogg]

My Mavic 2 Zoom flew sideways into a tree and was up there for about seven months (summer to winter). After a severe windstorm, I thought is might be worth checking on it and the branch it was on had broken and it fell about 75 feet down to the beach. It was about 50 feet into waist deep blackberry vines. I hacked a trail to it and it was not damaged. I let it dry in a warm place for several days and charged the battery and it came back to life. It had an obstacle avoidance error warning so I sent it to DJI for repairs. Whether they repaired it or sent me another one, It is still flying well.

Might be worth going back when the snow is gone to see if you can find it.

 

[Dale D]

He died in the line of duty, alone and lost with his good propeller spinning in the wind. He could not be recovered. Sad.
View attachment 181232

Extending my deepest condolences.

Dale
Miami

 

[RJEPA67]

May we ask what was the cause of death and unrecoverable?!

 

[akdrone]

My Mavic 2 Zoom flew sideways into a tree and was up there for about seven months (summer to winter). After a severe windstorm, I thought is might be worth checking on it and the branch it was on had broken and it fell about 75 feet down to the beach. It was about 50 feet into waist deep blackberry vines. I hacked a trail to it and it was not damaged. I let it dry in a warm place for several days and charged the battery and it came back to life. It had an obstacle avoidance error warning so I sent it to DJI for repairs. Whether they repaired it or sent me another one, It is still flying well.

Might be worth going back when the snow is gone to see if you can find it.

Worthington Glacier. Nuff said .

 

[Rchawks]

It's not worth risking a Avalanche (20ft of snow bank) and your life, very smart to let it go. In all the years of flying radio control I've crashed twice into the top of a tree. First time when I was in my early 40's and used a weight and string to throw a tie down strap over a large branch 15 ft from the ground and pulled myself up into the tree. I climb branch after branch to where the plane was halfway up. I was terrified making the transition going back down realizing the risk I was taking trying to save the plane. Second time it was unreachable and was able to get it back thru the help of a boom lift from a very kind gentleman who had access to one. It's never worth risking life and limb to try to save something that can be replaced.