UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
Started using a preprogrammed flight path. Three minutes into a fifteen minute flight; radio connection was lost with aircraft. Attempted to use 'return to home' function and manual control but aircraft would not respond. Aircraft flew beyond line of sight and has yet to be recovered.
Contacted reporter who confirmed that the UAV had still not been recovered and added that the UAV was lost in a partially mountainous or hilly area with some large private residences scattered about. The local police were notified of the loss.
UAV Operator reported losing radio connection with their UAV on a commercial photography mission. It has not been recovered.