A review of the most common and outlandish drone fails around the web.

Author: Denisa Popescu


From crazy ‘’fails’’ such as putting a scarecrow mask on a drone or flying it into a pet’s mouth, to more common occurrences such as pilot error or strong winds, the internet is packed with funny shorts and compilations regarding drone fails and better believe it, I’ve seen it all!

Sure, drone fails might be a fun watch, but wrecking your $10,000 toy is not exactly worth the cool 15-second shot and the 15 minutes of fame, so in this article, I’m going to showcase the most common and not-so-common drone fails and give you some tips on how to avoid crashing your new gadget.

Lately, drone technology has become so advanced that most times an error occurs, it has to do with the pilot’s misuse of the device. This doesn’t always mean that the pilot abuses the drone until it crashes. Rather that he’s not aware of or adapted to its features and use.

After watching 6.182 drone fails, I’ve managed to divide them into categories and subcategories and, through that, hopefully also help you understand what not to do when flying your drone.

I will divide these drone fails into three categories:” most common,” “often happening,” and “Not so common, but it still occurred.”

We will start with the first category, which includes the most common fails seen throughout these videos.

I. Most Common Drone Fails (3.702 videos, 59.88%)

1. A mixture of bad weather, pilot error, and foreign objects (1.602 videos)

I’ve chosen to designate most of this category to this example. As specific as it sounds, this is a widespread and preventable occurrence. This subcategory encompasses approximately 59.88% of the videos from this category and 25.91% of all crashes.

You might think that a single factor can be pinpointed as the reason why your drone is failing, but most times, a mixture of bad weather, such as, for example, strong winds, pilot error, and foreign objects ranging from people to utility poles are all contributing factors to a crash, damaging enough to destroy your drone for good.

I’ve chosen to include all of the above in the same category because the crash, in this situation, has the same principle in all cases. Whether the drone crashes into a wall, a tree branch, or a person, the leading steps before the crash are almost always the same, even though the scenario might differ slightly. For example, whether the pilot error is linked to flying your drone backward or looking at the monitor instead of the drone, most times, the wind makes this slight error much worse, and it amplifies the chances for your drone crashing into something external with approximatively 70%.

The strong winds are a constant occurrence in all of these videos. I might say that in all of the drone fails filmed outside, no matter the category, the fails are somehow linked to the result.  In my opinion, most crashes that happen outdoors correlate to windy weather.

There’s a reason why flying over a body of water occupies a whole category on my list. The stronger the wind and current, the more likely your drone will crash. 

Like in the case of currents and winds, pilot error is most likely somehow linked to all crashes.

There are some situations where the person controlling the drone is reckless, such as sending the drone into overdrive or crashing it due to continuous loops.

Still, unsurprisingly, most videos that have something to do with a pilot error are based on a small and preventable mistake.

The table below shows you the most common pilot errors that lead to drone crashing. I’ve created this table in order for you to better understand what to avoid if you are a first-time flyer.

Videos showcasing pilot error

1.020 (16.49% of all videos)

Cause

The number of videos in which it occurs

Percentage – All videos

Percentage – Pilot error videos

 

 

 

 

Flying too close to the ground/ Flying too low

190

3.07%

18.62%

Flying too close to the subject

170

2.74%

16. (6) %

Loops

120

1.94%

11.76%

Flying too high off the ground

110

1.77%

10.78 %

Putting too much pressure on the drone and sending it into overdrive

 

90

 

1.45%

 

8.82%

FPV (First Person Mode)

90

1.45%

8.82%

Stationing the drone

70

1.13%

6.86%

Looking at the monitor instead of the drone

50

0.80%

4.90%

Sense of direction problems

40

0.64%

3.92%

Flying through trees/grass etc

40

0.64%

3.92%

Losing focus and flying backward

30

0.48%

2.94%

Flying way too far and not having a sense of the drone anymore

20

0.32%

1.96%

These errors combined with windy weather and a “targeted” subject call for a crash that will definitely destroy your drone. Still, they are easily preventable if you have accumulated some basic theoretical drone knowledge before piloting your first drone. Later on, in this article, I will give you some advice on how exactly to make sure that you are piloting your drone right, so keep on reading if you want to learn more about this matter, but for now, let’s get back to our topic and see which are the most probable foreign objects (subjects) that might wreck your drone.

Without further ado, here are the most frequently encountered objects and subjects in these drone fail videos.

Drones Crashing into subjects videos 582 (9.41% of all videos)

Cause

The number of videos in which it occurs

Percentage – All videos

Percentage – Drones Crashing into subjects videos

 

 

 

 

Trees/ground

290

4.69%

49.82%

Wall/building

90

1.45%

15.46%

Person

80

1.29%

13.74%

Pets

40

0.64%

6.87%

Rocks

30

0.48%

5.15%

Home belongings (chair, table, etc.)

30

0.48%

5.15%

Light poles

10

0.16%

1.71%

Car door

10

0.16%

1.71%

Cactus

1

0.01%

0.17%

Golf finishing hole

1

0.01%

0.17%

Here is also the corresponding pie chart:

2. Flying over a body of water (1.100 videos, 17.79%)

Flying over a body of water takes the 2nd spot on this list of drone fails, summing up to 1100 videos. Water is the most unsafe medium to fly over, so I would not recommend any fly attempts near it for a drone beginner or even a casual drone flier that’s not acquainted with this medium.

As I previously mentioned, weather conditions play a massive role in drone control.

So, the currents and strong winds that you might encounter flying through this medium are a deadly combination for your drone if you don’t know how to handle them.

 Always be aware of the weight of your drone and the altitude you fly at. The higher you fly over water, the better, given that the flying height and a hefty drone weight are the main ways to diminish the effect of currents. It is recommended to maintain a height of at least two meters (2m) above the water.

It is also advised to disable the VPS (Vision Positioning System). This system usually helps with mapping the surface below to offer a clearer sight of the terrain you are flying over to position the drone properly.

But in this case, it could lead to a crash due to light reflecting, which happens when you fly above the water, and also due to the “too even” surface of the medium.

3. Low battery (1.000 videos, 16.17%)

The 3rd most encountered occurrence is related to the battery level of your drone.

The leading cause of drone crashing due to low battery is usually directly linked to the user’s lack of knowledge regarding general drone features or, in most cases, features only applied to their specific drone model. For example, some drones are designed to return home at 30% and automatically land at 15%, but this doesn’t mean they won’t fail the process if you don’t pilot them right.

Your drone might not have this feature, but even if it does, you have to be aware that you need to land your drone as soon as possible when the battery reaches 30%.

  Be aware of your battery (durability and percent) when you fly your drone. For example, if you want to fly your drone far from your location, make sure that your battery is full; otherwise, you might encounter some problems that can lead to drone crashing.

Even though most of them fly back at 30%, drones don’t have enough power to land you safely at 15% if you are too far from the landing area, so the possibility of landing in the wrong place, for example, water or mud, is high if you don’t follow the precautions regarding battery levels.

II. Often happening drone fails (2.300 videos, 37.20% of the videos)

1. Flying through a closed space/flying indoors (700 videos, 11.32%)

Through my research, I’ve found out that many people think it’s a good idea to fly your drone indoors.

When flying indoors, trouble can arise from not having a GPS signal due to the small designated area where you use your drone ex: room. This destabilizes the drone in most cases, leading to an inevitable crash.

If you really need to film a drone shot indoors, make sure you follow these steps:

  1. watch out for wires
  2. don’t fly your drone through narrow spaces
  3. don’t fly backward
  4. be aware of the electromagnetic field, your appliances, and electrical devices can interfere with your drone.

2. Flying through a narrow space outside (windows, cracks in the walls, etc.) (600, 9.70%)

Reckless drone handling often leads to accidents.

 If usually, you could blame your drone fails on pure misguidance, or a bit of user mismanagement, this category proves that sometimes people would just act foolish for a bit of fun or some YouTube views despite the sometimes-spicy price of drones.

A short piece of advice for this category would be: Just don’t do it!

3. Electric wires (500 videos, 8.08%)

The high current load in electric wires creates a magnetic field that interferes with any electrical device that appears within its range, including your drone, if you fly it within its perimeter. Due to the interference, you can entirely lose control over your drone, ultimately causing its fall and probably destroying it.

Either way, with or without electric wires in sight, you shouldn’t be flying your drone at an altitude high enough to reach them or even be in the perimeter of their magnetic field.

4. Birds (400 videos, 6.47%)

The drone you fly is always within the perimeter of birds. Besides, their mid-air agility makes them the perfect target that your drone might crash in if you are not careful.

The presence of drones can also disrupt the mating and migratory behaviors of birds and injure them.

Predatory birds usually cause bird attacks, and they are really common. The best way to avoid hitting a bird is flying during their migration period, so you simply don’t encounter them. If that’s not possible, try flying through zones you already know are not crowded with birds.

III. Not so common, but still occurred (180 videos, 2.91%)

1. Trying to fly after a moving subject with your drone. (70 videos, 1.13%)

Are you trying to catch a cool shot of a speeding racecar or simply your girlfriend running? Well, think twice about it because this will lead to the demise of your drone in most cases. This is a terrible strategy for capturing your subjects mid-air, which can be tremendously hard even without the added speed and difficulty that is implied when you are flying after a moving subject. Plus, most times, the drone is way too close to the ground in these videos, so try to avoid filming like this, but if you are still sold on this idea, try at least to capture the subject from higher up.

2. Flying through a forest (70 videos, 0.80%)

Flying through different subjects and not having enough space to control your drone is never a good idea, so flying through a forested area will always be challenging, even for drone professionals.

In such an environment, try to be aware of your surroundings, don’t get too comfortable too fast in such a situation. When you become comfortable, the probability of crashing increases exponentially.

3. Simply not knowing the basics of flying a drone on your first try (40 Videos, 0.64%)

Always consult online forums and your drone manual before your first flight. The smallest mistakes might cause the most outlandish crashes, so be aware of everything you can research about drones and know theoretically before your first flight because indeed, this will save your first drone acquisition.

4. Flying into a cave (10 videos, 0.16%)

As I previously mentioned, avoid small, humid, and dark places. They are the perfect medium for drone crashes.

5. Trying to catch footage of a moving drone with another drone (10 videos, 0.16%)

Drone piloting is complex and hard even without the challenges and coordination this task imposes. I would advise you not to attempt this if you are not already a professional drone pilot.

Conclusion

I’ve included some honorable mentions that I came upon throughout these videos just for some laughs. Do not attempt these!

Without further ado, the table below contains the most outlandish drone occurrences I came upon:

Freezing your drone while flying it at the North pole

Getting angry and destroying your drone with a golf bat

Putting a heavy object on your drone, in this case, a scarecrow head

Flying your drone close to the campfire, the heat causing the drone to crash.

TRYING TO CATCH YOUR DRONE WHILE IT CRASHES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!! DO NOT ATTEMPT!!

I hope this article was helpful and made you better understand what to avoid, or at least how to pilot your drone in the safest way possible if you come across situations like this.

I want to conclude this article with Tony & Chelsea Northrup’s video, “Top 10 Ways you’ll CRASH your Drone” which I found really insightful and useful. Check it out below:

Sources:

  • DroneCrashes. “Drone Fail 2019 Compilation, Mavic Pro, Inspire 2, Parrot Anafi, Phantom 4.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Jan. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT58p1YmZkc.
  • failarmy. “Epic Drone Fails – Top 40 Drone Fails of All Time | Failarmy.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Nov. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3iML1HgVGI.
  • kencheron. “Drone Crash Compilation – Vol. 3.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 July 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3HApTbOPu4.
  • kencheron. “Drone Crash Compilation Vol. 4.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Sept. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkWepDdl5aM.
  • kencheron. “Drone Crash Compilation Vol. 5 (Gravity Wins Again).” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Dec. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_QAF9R5eZ0.
  • kencheron. “Drone Crash Compilation Vol. 6 (Attack of the Trees).” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Mar. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvR444Jptzk.
  • Santos, Willy J. “My Favorite Drone Fails Compilation!” YouTube, YouTube, 16 June 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FVeZeT_TEA.
  • Surprise Vs Surprise. “Epic Drone Crash & Fail Compilation 12.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFk99WbwoPM.
  • Surprise vs Surprise. “Epic Drone Crash & Fail Compilation 19.” YouTube, YouTube, 1 Oct. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brpg3ipEr2o.