Micro UAS; Multirotor
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days (UAS) 1; Flight Crew Total 1100; Flight Crew Total (UAS) 3; Flight Crew Type (UAS) 3
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction
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
Aircraft Lost / Unrecoverable (UAS)
Human Factors; Weather; Aircraft
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.
Reporter did not provide any additional information.
Recreational UAS pilot had a fly away when the wireless phone controller became overheated and failed.