The WORST place to crash your drone

Zapiture · Feb 1, 2018

So I managed to totally freak out my wife. She bought me a Mavic Pro for Xmas and I managed to CRASH IT IN THE AFRICAN BUSHVELD. It got me curious: WHERE IS THE WORST PLACE A MAVIC PRO HAS CRASHED? It would make interesting reading, please add a clip if you can.

Here is my story as we had a major overland trip planned for the Holidays, she let me have it a few days before we set off.

In all I would guess I had 8 hrs of flight time and about 22 take offs. From the onset I was ecstatic with the gear and perhaps had a fair bit of false conference built up that set me up for an epic fail.

We arrive in Botswana two days before Xmas and I get the Mavic to follow me. I get great footage but the 4x4 rig is to **** small on the shot so I get the Mavic closer plus I slide the rotating pivot point to allow for a 360 deg shot from all sides. Big mistake, I miscalculated the big thorn tree and the drone ended up clipping one of the high branches. Down it came and once almost recovered.

Watch the clip here:
My first attempt at a YouTube video. Don’t laugh too much.

Let me know what you think.

colinfowler · Feb 1, 2018

thats a shame, and im not laughing.
im sure it did not spoil a great holiday,

in hindsight going up above the trees before 360 would have been a better choice. the panning up to get a 360 of the view.
did you do much damage, was it usable for the rest of your trip?

joejaxvic123 · Feb 1, 2018

Wow! The opening shot is epic! Sorry about your bird, how's she doing?

naturecannon · Feb 1, 2018

"Follow me" and tree limbs eats soo many Mavics!

Neebles · Feb 1, 2018

I don’t think it can get much worse than in the middle of a lake or in the ocean, where chance of recovery is nil. I haven’t done it personally, but have read plenty of stories. At least if it crashes somewhere on land, there is a chance of locating it.

gtolover · Feb 1, 2018

is there ever a good place to wreck?

Neebles · Feb 1, 2018

gtolover said:
is there ever a good place to wreck?

It depends on how insured you are I suppose.

Zapiture · Feb 1, 2018

joejaxvic123 said:
Wow! The opening shot is epic! Sorry about your bird, how's she doing?

Thanks, no real damage done. I lost a rear foot piece and two props. Fortunately I had extra spares. The rest of the trip was a blast.

laurens23 · Feb 2, 2018

Neebles said:
I don’t think it can get much worse than in the middle of a lake or in the ocean, where chance of recovery is nil. I haven’t done it personally, but have read plenty of stories. At least if it crashes somewhere on land, there is a chance of locating it.

Yes, send one to Poseidon myself. However knowing I cant recover it gives quick closure. Having a flyaway and knowing it must be recoverable, but not being able to find it, possibly spending hours and hours looking for it, seems like a worse fate to me.