Part 107 UAS pilot reported unintentionally conducting a flight over people while in autonomous flight.

Date: 2026-01 · Aircraft: DJI Mini 5 Pro · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far

Synopsis

Part 107 UAS pilot reported unintentionally conducting a flight over people while in autonomous flight.

Narrative

Today I was doing practice flying for potential future real estate shoots. I inadvertently flew over people; resulting in a potential operational rules violation -- and causing unnecessary verbal conflict with an observer.I had selected the swimming pool complex of a new real estate development to take some practice photos and videos. I was operating below 150 most of the time. I noted that there were three people on the pool grounds and had no intention to overfly any of them.I took some still photos from a distance in such a way that the palm trees obscured the people. Then I shot some video. Or maybe it was the other way around. At some point; I liked what I was seeing enough to want more; so I selected the MasterShots program on my drone's controller to initiate a series of preplanned maneuvers which would be flow while recording video. While at a distance and in a position that the people were still obscured from my drone's vantage point; I selected a center-point for my flight and initiated the MasterShots sequence. It's not that I had forgotten the people at that point; I just didn't consciously consider that they'd be overflown. I think I remember taking that moment to reposition myself a bit to get closer to the pool complex so as to be seen by the people at the pool. I had an ID lanyard on (my certificate and my UAS registration); so I wanted to project to them (if they saw or heard the drone) that I wasn't some pervert hiding in the bushes; but instead I was someone who wanted to be as overt as possible in my operation.When one of the people in the pool spotted me; he began to call out to me in an unkind manner. I offered to show him my ID and allow him to see my photos and videos. He declined but did continue to say unkind things to me. I have to admit that after trying to have a reasonable conversation; I yelled something unkind back at him and I terminated the flight and left the area.It was only after I left the area that I considered the possibility that the drone might have actually directly overflown the pool while either shooting or positioning for a shot. I checked my files and saw that the drone had done exactly that.Although I think the guy in the pool was intentionally being nasty for no good reason. He never once said; 'Hey; you flew over me!' He was just a jerk and I finally took the bait with my parting comment.Nonetheless; the drone was in my control at the time. I just had only ever done MasterShots practice around the big pine tree behind my house. So even though the guy was a jerk; I'm the one who made the operational error that I'm reporting today.I will also add as a human factor that I was fatigued and emotionally drained going into the operation. I signed paperwork to begin hospice care for my mother this week. We have been spending down my wife's retirement (with her consent) to care for my mother. I tried to squeeze in this practice flight after being unable to do it yesterday. That was a mistake.Takeaways: 1. Monitor all automated operations; even a simple repositioning for a shot you've practiced before. 2. Interrupt that automated operation if it deviates from your intent. 3. Don't fly when your mind isn't in the game. 4. Don't take the bait and argue with someone who is trying to pick a fight. I'm sorry this happened; I regret my errors in operation and judgment; and this has caused me to reevaluate my approach to mission safety.

NASA callback

Reporter stated they had a waiver for operations over people but did not intend to fly over the people.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.