Todd in Chicago
![](https://forum44.djicdn.com/data/attachment/common/c5/common_13_usergroup_icon.png) lvl.4
Flight distance : 513757 ft
United States
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DJI User3277....
I am sorry to hear your story. Looking at your location, it looks great. Big wide open space away from possible interference. I am a beginner at looking at the Phantom Help log files, and I'll admit I was a bit puzzled. You had adequate number of satellites, few error messages, all looked good. But I did notice that at some point on your return to home, you started going backwards. I was thinking...hmmm...maybe your homepoint was set incorrectly, but the Airdata data that Lyons90 looked at shows a high wind speed. I've only seen my Spark get up to about 26 mph going home, and I think that was with the wind. So if the wind was anything like that, I can understand the problem.
One of the things I always check when I fly is which way the wind is blowing. If possible, if I'm doing any long flights, I want to be returning to home with the wind, not against it.
Lyons90 provided a huge "lightbulb" moment for me. I have exported my logs to Airdata a few times (a great tool), but have never looked for the windspeed function. I'll need to check this out.
This a really fantastic sport which I got into only a few months ago. This is so much fun and I'm learning so much.
What I will also say, is that we have rules, as responsible UAV pilots we are to follow. Not everyone follows them 100% of the time, and I think part of that is human nature. For example, I think you were about 1,600 feet out when RTH was initiated, if you can see your Spark at 1,600 feet out and 328 feet high, lol....you are a better man than I! I'm not coming down on you, I think most sometimes flex (ok....break) the rules.
In this particular case, you flew a decent distance (over 1,000 feet) downwind. It's possible you didn't consider this, and I'm guessing in the future you will. :-) Or, maybe you did consider this, and just risked it. This is very common and human nature to try to push the boundaries of exploration, and if you ask me, that's what we are doing.
I think we all have regular "safe" flights in which all rules are followed. It is doubtful that there are many here among us that have not flown in conditions, which if fully laid out, would not put the pilot at fault if something bad happened during the flight.
I think the best thing is for us all to learn as we go along, so that we can be cognizant of the decisions we actively make.
Again, sorry for your loss. I am thankful that I have learned something from this thread.
I do hope you are able to find your Sparky!
Cheers...
Todd in Chicago
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