Updated: 03/03/26
An experienced drone operator will tell you that when flying a drone, there are factors beyond your control that could lead to drone crashes (which is why protecting yourself with Drone Insurance is so beneficial). However, you can reduce your risk if you’re aware of the factors.
In this article, we’ve outlined ten tips to help you avoid drone crashes and operate your drone more safely. You can use the links below to quickly navigate to each one.
- 1. Check the Weather Conditions
- 2. Do Your Pre-Flight Checks
- 3. Use an Appropriate Landing Pad or Surface for Taking Off and Landing
- 4. Hover Your Drone Before Setting Off
- 5. Ensure Your Batteries are Fully Charged
- 6. Keep an Eye on Your Batteries Throughout Your Flight
- 7. Set your Return to Home (RTH) Point
- 8. Avoid Hitting the Return to Home (RTH) Button Too Quickly
- 9. Know Which Direction You’re Heading In
- 10. Don’t Over-Rely on Your Obstacle Detection Sensors
- What Happens When a Drone Crash Can’t be Avoided?
1. Check the Weather Conditions
The first thing to consider is the weather forecast for your flight. Drones have many intricate motors and sensitive electronics that need to be protected as best as possible against airborne moisture from rain, fog and snow.
Ideally, you want to fly on days with clear skies and good visibility, and in conditions that are not wet and windy, as they can drastically reduce your visibility and make it more difficult to fly safely.
Colder temperatures can also greatly reduce the chemical activity in lithium batteries. This reduces flight time and can cause your batteries to become unstable, putting your drone at risk of a sudden drop from the sky.
Extra tip: You can easily check the weather conditions in the area you plan to operate your drone for free using services like AccuWeather and others. If you intend on flying during the winter months, check out our article on the top tips for flying your drone this winter.
2. Do Your Pre-Flight Checks
It’s important to get into the habit of regularly checking your drone’s condition to ensure it’s in a fit state to fly before you set off. Below, we’ve provided a checklist of things to look out for that are common causes of drone crashes:
- Inspect your equipment to ensure there’s
- No damage to any ports
- No loose wires
- Your rotors and propellers are in good condition and haven’t been damaged or bent out of shape
- Secure your battery packs and ensure they’re fully charged
- Ensure you have a sufficient GPS signal
- Correctly tune and calibrate your compass
Extra tip: The above is just an example of some items you should consider for your pre-flight checklist. As a drone operator, your drone and pre-flight checklist are your responsibility, but you may want to review downloadable pre-flight checklists from drone training specialists like our partner heliguy.
3. Use an Appropriate Landing Pad or Surface for Taking Off and Landing
We’ve seen reports suggesting you’re more likely to crash your drone during take-off and landing. It’s therefore beneficial that you choose a landing pad or surface that is:
- Dry to prevent moisture from getting into the motors, sensors and electronics
- Clear of any dust or debris
- Flat and stable to allow your drone to calibrate effectively
These simple steps can reduce the chances of an incident occurring as early as take-off or just as your drone is coming in to land.
4. Hover Your Drone Before Setting Off
By hovering your drone a few metres above the ground for a minute or two during take-off, you allow your batteries to warm up and give yourself time to check that everything is in full working order before you commence your flight. If you do identify an issue, you can quickly and safely return your drone to the ground, which is preferable to discovering it at a higher altitude.
5. Ensure Your Batteries are Fully Charged
Always ensure your batteries are fully charged before take-off, and, wherever possible, avoid flying with low or partially charged batteries. Although it’s tempting, the last thing you want is for your drone to lose power and crash or land somewhere unretrievable. While you can get insurance to protect you against these types of errors, it’s best to prepare by following best practices and fully charging your batteries before a flight.
You may think you have enough power to complete your flight safely with a semi-charged battery, but it carries the increased risk of losing power mid-flight.
6. Keep an Eye on Your Batteries Throughout Your Flight
It’s important to stay vigilant and monitor any unusual drone battery status during the flight. While you may have started a flight with a full charge, if an issue with your drone’s battery management, such as cold weather, is affecting your drone, you may find that your batteries drain faster than usual.
Extra tip: Warm and cold temperatures can significantly reduce chemical activity in lithium batteries, shortening flight times and potentially causing instability.
7. Set your Return to Home (RTH) Point
Everyone wants their drone to return to them safely and without complications. Make sure you have set a Return to Home (RTH) point on your drone before take-off, so you can activate it in case of an emergency. You may want to set an RTH location at an altitude that helps you avoid obstacles in the area, such as the top of a hill (so your drone can land quickly without a long descent) or away from trees or buildings it may need to navigate.
Extra tip: Aim to start your drone flight with a minimum of 4 out of 5 GPS signal bars on your drone, as this ensures a higher safety margin in case the signal should decrease during your operation.
8. Avoid Hitting the Return to Home (RTH) Button Too Quickly
When you start to lose control of your drone, it’s natural to start feeling anxious and quickly hit the Return to Home (RTH) button to get it back to safety. However, it’s important to remember that most consumer drones will trace a straight line back to the home point and cannot avoid obstacles.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to use the RTH function, try to remain calm, look for any visible obstructions, and consider other options before pressing the button.
9. Know Which Direction You’re Heading In
We know this may seem obvious, but this tip is particularly useful for beginner flyers. When your drone is flying high in the air and visibility is reduced by conditions such as low sun, it can be difficult to identify which side is which, making it easy to mistake the tail end for the nose and causing misdirection. Proceed cautiously until you determine the direction and redirect the drone if needed.
10. Don’t Over-Rely on Your Obstacle Detection Sensors
While obstacle-avoidance systems can help avoid obstacles more easily, they cannot fully replace the eyes and judgment of a skilled drone operator. Remember, your drone’s sensors can miss smaller obstacles, such as small branches.
Ultimately, your drone is your responsibility, so you should rely more on your own judgment and skills, using automated systems as tools to assist you rather than relying on them entirely.
What Happens When a Drone Crash Can’t be Avoided?
In some situations, a drone crash is unavoidable. It’s in these circumstances that a robust specialist Drone Insurance policy can be beneficial. At Coverdrone, we specialise solely in Drone Insurance, giving us a strong understanding of drone operators’ real-world flying experiences. Click below to start tailoring your quote today and get protection against drone crashes.
