Date: 202109
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: SEZ.Airport, AZ
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: Turbulence; 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Micro UAS; Multirotor
Operator: Recreational / Hobbyist (UAS)
Operating under: Recreational Operations / Section 44809 (UAS)
Flight plan: None
Mission: Recreational / Hobbyist (UAS)
Flight phase: Hovering (UAS); Cruise
Aircraft component: Ground Control Station (UAS)
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Recreational / Hobbyist (UAS)
Reporter function: Remote PIC (UAS); Person Manipulating Controls (UAS)
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Unauthorized Flight Operations (UAS); Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of VLOS (UAS); Inflight Event / Encounter Fly Away (UAS); Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Visual Observer (UAS)
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Lost / Unrecoverable (UAS)
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Weather; Aircraft
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: On a typical week-end trip with friends; we wanted a drone shot in a scenic location; so I searched recommended spots and found that Red Rock was a popular spot; confirmed on the map that it was far enough from the airport and that it was far enough from the wilderness area; so we went there. Into the hike we came across a sign indicating that the wilderness area started there; a bit closer than the map seemed to indicate; so we canceled the plan; and I hiked back to the car to put the drone back in the trunk; and we went for the hike again. After the hike; we had such great views that I figured we could still do a panorama shot safely while staying outside the wilderness area. A friend was the designated watcher; and I quickly prepared the drone for a quick shot while our friends waited. I took off and went to a safe altitude of 400 ft.; and started heading towards Red Rock mountain to frame the shot properly. Then the phone screen dimmed suddenly and became harder to read; but I could still clearly see that I was still far from the mountain and the wilderness area; so I headed towards it. What I didn't realize is that the phone had been heat-soaked in the car in the Arizona summer sun all afternoon; and had stopped updating the screen altogether. So while it displayed a picture of the drone safely at a distance; the drone was actually advancing; so I was surprised and confused when the designated watcher called that the drone was out of sight. We talked; and as I went to show him the video feed; the screen went dark. When I turned the phone back on; the connection with the drone was lost.Given last position and direction; it probably crashed near the summit of the Red Rock mountain; hopefully too high to endanger anyone. But it's a touristic wilderness area; so I checked with a ranger who said it was not a problem; that it happens all the time. I'm still worried that the drone likely crashed in a wilderness area; and really hoping it didn't endanger anyone. It's very frustrating as I was trying to do things safely and legally. I should have realized faster that I had lost video feedback and was flying blind. Instead I allowed myself to be distracted by the dimming of the screen. Next time I will pay attention to the heat of course; and should something confusing happen; I will come back and land to sort it out.

Callback: Reporter did not provide any additional information.



Synopsis: Recreational UAS pilot had a fly away when the wireless phone controller became overheated and failed.