After reading through the update link, this actually is starting to make some sense, common sense is also a big part of what we do and looking at the video there are many things where many of us would have done differently, including me, I would not want any part of such an event. With that said if I did, I differently would not cross the paved part of the track, and if I was over the dirt part I would stay more toward the animal section.
My guess from the video is that the copter had a catastrophic power failure. From what it sounds like, its possible the pilot was not keeping sense of power used, The first time I watched the video I thought to myself that they were not doing a good job of flying smoothly, especially how the copter dropped right before the event happened, I now think the operator may have hit the second voltage threshold which cause the craft to descend, he then added power to level off, which you can do. Since the copter was pretty heavy the battery curve was dropping quick, as the m3 motor needed more power to keep it level, the battery just did not have, that's why right before it topple over it started drifting left. Next came a chain of events causing it to topple over.
Once 3 position motor was not leveling off the copter from the lack of power, then the FC threw power to the other two motors over on that side (2,4), that draw was to much and that made the battery voltage current drop below those ESCs cut off point, and they shut down, which then caused the copter to start tumbling left with no chance of recovery.
What I write is just a theory, and I can tell you from my past experiences when I did not know how crucial draining batteries where. When I got a new battery I would then take it out and fly it until I hit my second threshold, by then I was only a few feet off the ground and over a soft grass area, at that point I would then wait with my finger on the stick for the copter to drop, once it started to drop, which the characteristics looked very similar to what to place here I then you drop the throttle and the copter would usually land with out any issues.
Once you drop the throttle the copter then would not have such a demand for power and the landing where fast but stable. I would do that so I would know exactly the time I could plan the copter would fall out of the sky in a emergency situations, also it would help me figure out the crucial threshold - 1 min before complete shut down.
Again that was when I did not know what that would do to the batteries, a newbee thing.
This was not a good day for Multirotors !!
best all
An updated news video with updated details ... Federal investigation underway.
http://wtvr.com/2013/08/26/great-bull-run-crash-victims/
The news report indicates that the owner of the multirotor "leased" it to a third party to film the Bull Run.
Leased a multirotor to a third party ... are you kidding me?
You think the owner is a little worried today?
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