The First Time I Crashed a DJI Drone: A Transformative Experience
Hello, fellow drone enthusiasts! Today, I’m recounting a significant moment that every pilot can learn from—my very first drone crash. Trust me, it was both painful and educational!
The incident occurred back in 2017 during an event at Guangopolo. I had been flying my brand new DJI Mavic Air for only two months when, one Sunday morning, I received a call from a close friend and fellow photographer.
What Could Go Wrong?
He asked me, “Are you confident flying that drone?” To which the overly confident Rafael replied, “Absolutely!” With more self-assurance than sense, I was ready to take on the skies.
Unfortunately, at that moment, I didn’t have the foresight or knowledge that would have prepared me. With a mix of excitement and overconfidence typical of a new pilot, I was about to enter a tough lesson.
Fast forward three hours; I arrived at the event site, where I felt compelled to capture vibrant aerial shots. Starting low was my comfort zone, as flying above 50 meters would make me anxious. It’s amusing how new pilots often swing between excessive caution and reckless bravado, isn’t it? I was guilty of both—afraid of heights but overly confident in my skills.
Lack of Common Sense?
The area was surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees, notorious for ruining drone flights. These trees act like magnets for unsuspecting drones, ready to bring them crashing down.
It was a recipe for disaster: tall trees and an inexperienced pilot. The inevitable happened—I crashed! Although I no longer have the footage from that fateful day (and I regret not saving it as a lesson), I can vividly recall that I attempted an upward, backward shot without carefully checking the height of the tallest tree nearby.
As I conducted my shoot, just four seconds later, I beheld the most horrifying sight for a drone pilot—my drone spiraling out of control, plummeting from about 40 meters high.
The sinking feeling in my stomach was palpable, akin to my $600 investment falling skyward. Luckily, the tree canopy cushioned the descent, saving my drone from a harsher fate.
The Aftermath of the Crash
Astoundingly, it survived what was akin to an 11-story drop, only to carry the lingering scent of eucalyptus for weeks. More importantly, this experience propelled my dedication to teaching others about safe flying practices. While I hoped it would be my last crash, I now have stories for many more future lessons. As I tell my students, there are two types of drone pilots: those who’ve crashed and those who will.
What about you? What’s your most heart-wrenching crash story? Did you crash into a tree? Water? Or perhaps the dreaded power lines? Share your stories; I want to know I’m not alone in this “drone crash survivors support group!”
