Government UAS pilot reported an inability to change course of the UAS during final approach. The UAS struck a car while attempting to land.
Synopsis
Government UAS pilot reported an inability to change course of the UAS during final approach. The UAS struck a car while attempting to land.
Narrative
On Day 0; I was conducting a mapping mission using the SUAS. Upon completion of the mapping mission; the aircraft began its landing pattern as expected. As the aircraft entered its final approach I realized that I had set an incorrect landing point for the aircraft and a car was parked at its intended landing point. I immediately attempted to call off the landing and send the SUAS into a loiter or send it to a previous waypoint. All attempts failed and were not accepted by the Ground Control Station. I then entered a command of emergency pause. This controlled the aircraft to continue to its landing point and pause in a hover at 150 ft. AGL for 25 seconds. I used our handheld radios to direct the Visual Observers to alert the driver of the car to move and he didn't respond. The aircraft finished its 25-second pause and I was able to command a pause one more time and it hovered at approximately 50 ft. AGL for an additional 25 seconds. I once more used the handheld radio to communicate the need for the car to move. The Visual Observer reached the vehicle and the driver attempted to move out of the way as the pause ended and the aircraft descended onto the car's front right hood/quarter panel.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.