DJI Matrice accident near Young Harris, Georgia, May 6, 2021
On May 6, 2021 at about 2:45 pm local time, a DJI Matrice (helicopter), registered FA3HW43WTF, suffered minor damage in an accident near Young Harris, Georgia. It was an other work-use flight under small-drone rules (Part 107). There were serious injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The remote pilot-in-command’s (RPIC) decision to physically hold onto the drone’s landing gear in flight, which resulted in the rotors striking his hand and causing serious injury. Contributing to the accident was the RPIC’s inadequate preflight planning and lack of airspace awareness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2021 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Young Harris, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- There were serious injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- DJI Matrice 300
- Registration
- FA3HW43WTF · no longer on the register · serial 1ZNDH3L0010562
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · small-drone rules (Part 107)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The remote pilot in command (RPIC) of the small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS, commonly known as a drone), intended to complete a demonstration flight next to a prison and was unaware of the restricted zone surrounding the prison. Before takeoff, the pilot set the home point within the buffer zone, which surrounded the restricted zone. About 7 minutes after takeoff, the RPIC initiated the return-to-home (RTH) function and drone proceeded toward the set home point. Because the home point was located within the buffer zone, the drone reached the buffer zone boundary and would not proceed to the set home point. The RPIC attempted to land the drone, but there were obstacles (vehicles) that prevented it from auto-landing and the buffer zone prevented it from relocating while still in RTH mode. Since the RPIC did not exit RTH mode, the drone would not respond to any manual control inputs. During the landing attempts, the RPIC exited RTH mode four times, which would have allowed the drone to respond to manual control inputs; however, each time, the RPIC reactivated RTH mode within a few seconds, which again prohibited any manual control inputs. The RPIC grabbed onto the landing gear and attempted to physically move the drone away from the vehicles. The drone resisted the physical displacement and maintained its position over the vehicle. The RPIC requested assistance from a demonstration attendee and handed him the remote controller. The RPIC ultimately attempted to remove the drone batteries, during which a propeller blade struck his right hand several times, which resulted in serious injury. The RPIC could have manually landed the drone if he had exited RTH mode. Also, the pilot should have discovered the restricted zone during preflight planning and used a landing zone and home point farther away from the restricted zone.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of geographic area › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › (general) › (general) › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private, remote
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 90 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 6, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KDZJ, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDZJ 061455Z AUTO 33004KT 7SM CLR 13/08 A3014 RMK AO2 T01310076
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Investigation Summary | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Operator's Statement | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Rpic Hours and Training Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Witness Statement - Sheriff | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Witness Statement - Sheriff's Office Employee | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Dji M300 Rtk Update Release Notes | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.