So I got my first drone not quite a year ago. I have flown it many times near my home and on vacation. It had been quite awhile since I last flew so recently wanted to get some flight time logged and practice some close quarters maneuvering. Seconds after takeoff a gust pushed my bird into a brick wall and it fell 8-10 feet to the pavement. The major damage was a snapped camera gimbal. Note the camera is hanging by the cable.

One of the biggest risks for a pilot of any aircraft (manned or unmanned) is over confidence. Given my many safe and successful flights, I had become over confident and I was rushing to get airborne while I still had light before sundown. In the rush I did not follow a complete pre-flight procedure, another major contributor to increased risk. So in hindsight, it is no surprise my drone took a dive. Thankfully, I had purchase DJI Care Refresh, which repairs or replaces your drone up to two times a year for a nominal flat fee of $79 for the first incident, and $129 for the second. If you have purchased a DJI drone, the $99 for a year of Refresh coverage is money well spent. If (when) you crash, you just open a claim via a web form and wrap it up and ship it off.

Lessons Learned

1. No matter how many successful flights you have made, every flight requires your full focus and discipline

2. Follow a pre-flight check list before EVERY flight

3. Assure takeoff/landing zone is well clear of obstacles in all directions. The highest risk points of any flight are the takeoff and the landing. Assure you have room to react to unexpected events.

Check for future posts on my journey to earn my FAA remote pilot certificate (aka commercial drone licence).