My Drone Crashed: Seeking Your Support

Hello friends,

Recently, I purchased a drone and started creating content with it, which has been incredibly fun and addicting, and a great way to expand the kinds of creative services I can offer. Unfortunately, while capturing footage at a campsite this weekend, I struck a power line that was hidden by bright sunlight, and the drone crashed into a river and could not be recovered.

The drone was a significant investment out of pocket, and I was aiming to make the value of it back from offering services with it and creating/selling content. I didn't get much time to try to accomplish that goal before the crash, but I still want to keep working with drones so I can keep creating and expanding what I can offer creatively. So, I am asking anyone who can spare some help to chip in and help me replace the drone I lost in order to continue that journey.

Anything you can spare would be incredibly helpful towards getting back in the air, and if you want more info on what I'd be looking to get or the accident, read on!

What I Would be Getting:

I would be looking at getting a DJI Mini 4 Pro, which is an incredible drone for the value with a great camera, operating distance, and flight features. I would be looking to purchase one second-hand or new open box to save some money. I would be looking at models that people have put DJI's (the dominant drone company at the moment) proprietary insurance package on. I purchased this insurance myself for my drone, but after waiting for the purchase to confirm for weeks, I was informed that DJI is not offering new insurance packages on drones purchased in the U.S.

This is more than likely because they are not a U.S.-based company, and the tariffs hiking everything up have made them pull most of their inventory from being available in the U.S. until they figure out how to handle pricing here. I was refunded for my insurance purchase and left to fly at my own risk, as insurance companies that offer drone insurance cater to businesses with fleets of drones at rates higher than my total income.

The Accident

The crash happened as I was capturing sunset reflections on water in a wooded area with a river running through it. I had multiple people around me keeping the drone in sight as it flew, and none of us could physically see the power lines in the air as the drone went towards them. I only saw them on the video feed from the drone as I was less than a foot away from them, and at that distance, there was no maneuvering I could do to avoid them. I could only hope the propellers were far enough away to not strike the lines (hoping did not work).

No one was injured, and no property outside of my own was damaged in any way. The drone struck the power lines and crashed into the river the lines were hanging over. Some of my friends and I swam out to where it went down to try and find it, but we were unsuccessful. The leading theory is the drone was light enough to be carried away by the river's current and floated away faster than we could chase it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and huge thanks if you can spare anything to help me get flying again.