Dog Attack Causes Pilot To Crash Drone And Start Fire
First time I've heard of something like this since I started flying RC...

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/07/...tart-fire/

Dog owner should buy him a new quad. No excuse for letting your dogs attack someone. Even if there wasn't a leash-law in that locale, the dog owner was responsible to keep his dogs under control. (I am a dog owner.)

Tactical awareness is important when flying like every other time in your daily activities.  You have the ability to see your surroundings with the goggles on, thinking about threats is as important as watching your RSSI.  Seems he likely saw the guy and his dogs coming before the video started and he should have landed before they got near him.  He didn't know if the dogs were aggressive, or if the guy is going to be a problem.  This is a good video for people to think about their personal safety while flying.  Most people "feel" they are safe most of the time.  The reality is, you are NEVER safe.

(14-Jul-2018, 01:16 PM)sloscotty Wrote: Dog owner should buy him a new quad.  No excuse for letting your dogs attack someone.  Even if there wasn't a leash-law in that locale, the dog owner was responsible to keep his dogs under control.  (I am a dog owner.)

I completely agree.  But the odds of the owner doing the right thing on his own is almost nil....and filing in small claims could be a hassle as well.  As I mentioned above the pilot could have prevented or mitigated the problem if  he had landed sooner.  I agree with you on irresponsible pet owners.  We are dog lovers, and own 3 currently.  But we are responsible.  We control our dogs when out and about, and we pick up their poop, which all too many owners don't.

Sounds like one dog was overly friendly and jumped on the pilot, no biting or "attacking" really. Still poorly trained and supervised dogs, but it looks like errors were made by both parties. Also odd how the pilot turns the camera away from himself just as the dogs are near him.

(14-Jul-2018, 01:22 PM)Krohsis Wrote: Tactical awareness is important when flying like every other time in your daily activities.  You have the ability to see your surroundings with the goggles on, thinking about threats is as important as watching your RSSI.  Seems he likely saw the guy and his dogs coming before the video started and he should have landed before they got near him.  He didn't know if the dogs were aggressive, or if the guy is going to be a problem.  This is a good video for people to think about their personal safety while flying.  Most people "feel" they are safe most of the time.  The reality is, you are NEVER safe.

I usually land or wait to fly when I see a dog as just about every dog I have come across has some sort of interest in the quad at least, racing off to chase it most cases.

I have this mindset every time I fly, or anytime really, especially having my kids with me almost always.

(14-Jul-2018, 04:31 PM)Drone0fPrey Wrote: I usually land or wait to fly when I see a dog as just about every dog I have come across has some sort of interest in the quad at least, racing off to chase it most cases.

I have this mindset every time I fly, or anytime really, especially having my kids with me almost always.

I knew you were squared away, particularly with your kids when flying.  You have far more to lose than a quad.   I've watched how the kids aren't out of view of the camera more than a few seconds.  And no one is around them when you're flying!

Although the dog owner is an idiot, I think the pilot was totally irresponsible. He should not be flying over dry grass in the first place. I experienced first hand how destructive a fire can be. I live in Northern California and last year wild fire came within a few hundred feet from my house. My whole neighborhood was wiped out. Many people lost their lives. Even loss a friend.

With the dry summer here, I see a lot of empty field that would be great for flying. I tell myself that if I crash, it can happen even without a dog bumping you, I could start a fire. I have now relegated myself flying over wet moist grass.

I also live in nor cal and have houses in hi fire areas it is no joke. You never loose the feeling when you see those flames coming and there is nothing you can do. Then you find it was a carless mistake that could have been prevented.

I trust no one. If I hear or see anything approaching me with my goggles the flight is instantly over and I land.

I do not know if they are going to push me over and steal my stuff while im disoriented.

This is 100% the pilots fault, flying over super dry grass, probably saw the unknown individual and chose to keep flying.

I am glad they got the fire out and am amazed the GoPro survived.

(16-Jul-2018, 10:42 PM)HaroldBawls Wrote: I trust no one. If I hear or see anything approaching me with my goggles the flight is instantly over and I land.

I do not know if they are going to push me over and steal my stuff while im disoriented.

This is 100% the pilots fault, flying over super dry grass, probably saw the unknown individual and chose to keep flying.

I am glad they got the fire out and am amazed the GoPro survived.

I do not agree.  While certainly the pilot is guilty of poor judgement in flying over an inappropriate area, the dog owner should have had control over his animals at all times.  For the dogs to jump on the pilot (either playing or attacking) is unacceptable.  Where I live the dog owner could have been fined for not having control over his animals and if the pilot were injured, he could have filed criminal charges against the owner.  Just my .02 with......

Poor choice on pilot's part on where he was flying. Did he see the dogs and man before launching? Who knows? Did the dog owner properly control his dogs? No. The largest share of responsibility goes to the dog owner.

How can anyone blame the dog walker in any manner?

When you go out into the wilderness do you expect to find stationary blind FPV pilots? No you expect to find hikers, and dogs.

(21-Jul-2018, 05:58 PM)HaroldBawls Wrote: How can anyone blame the dog walker in any manner?

When you go out into the wilderness do you expect to find stationary blind FPV pilots? No you expect to find hikers, and dogs.

It is very easy to hold the animal handler responsible. They should have been controlled by the person walking them.  Both the dogs came running at the pilot...not at the pilot's bidding and obviously not in control of the owner.  How is the dog owner NOT responsible for controlling their animals?

That is an open field, not wilderness.  It is not acceptable being accosted by someone's pets...EVER.

Did a little research. The incident took place within the corporate city limits of Springfield Oregon. Dogs are not allowed off-leash within the city limits except on the dog-owner's
property. (There is an exception for dogs in obedience or field training exercises under the direct supervision of a handler.) The pilot could have argued that the dogs caused personal property damage (loss of drone).

As to why didn't the pilot land, it could be that by the time he noticed the dogs, he was concerned that the spinning props might injure the animals, so he chose to fly the drone further away from them. All in all, I'd say the dog owner got off easy.