How I Could Have Avoided Crashing My 3-Day-Old DJI Mini 4 Pro

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is undeniably a marvel of modern drone technology. It is currently the best compact sub-250 g drone that money can buy. Packed with tons of new features such as omnidirectional obstacle sensing, true vertical shooting, and 4K video recording up to 120 fps, it is clearly designed for creators who demand both performance and portability—and for working professionals like me who prefer a smaller drone for easier flight access in most areas. It's easy to see why it's a popular choice among drone enthusiasts.

As an experienced pilot with over 300 flights, covering 450 kilometers and logging 44 flight hours since I began flying in late 2020, I felt confident that the Mini 4 Pro would be a worthwhile upgrade to my previous drone, the DJI Mavic Pro. Despite my initial skepticism, the flight experience and image quality produced by it were quite impressive—even though it is a much smaller drone compared to the DJI Mavic Pro. However, in just three days of owning it, I crashed it while on a paid job. Suffice it to say, it was a crash that could have been avoided given the advanced omnidirectional obstacle sensing equipped on the drone.

While executing a video sequence near a seaside construction site, the drone collided with a crane—the only significant obstacle in the area. This incident wasn’t due to environmental factors or technical malfunctions but rather an unfortunate situation caused by a series of my own assumptions and oversight that led to the accident: assuming the obstacle sensing would do its job, assuming the flight area was clear of any high-rises or hazards, and assuming that familiarity with flying meant immunity to surprises. Most importantly, on top of all those assumptions, was my lack of familiarity with a critical feature: Vision Assist—something that could have helped me see the crash coming before it happened.

In this article, I'll dive deep into discussing the circumstances leading up to the crash, explore the Vision Assist feature that could have prevented it, and discuss the broader implications for drone pilots regarding situational awareness and the importance of thoroughly understanding your equipment.

The Feature I Didn’t Know Existed

I remember looking at videos of the recently launched DJI Mini 4 Pro and was so impressed with the Vision Assist feature that DJI included in the drone. The Vision Assist feature displays real-time black-and-white previews of what the drone’s obstacle avoidance sensors are seeing at your remote control. It was one of those features that really stood out to me, as you could finally see what you are flying toward—not just from the front and back sensors, but also from the side sensors as well.

Ironically, I only discovered that the Mini 4 Pro actually had the Vision Assist feature two days after the crash—a feature that could have helped me see what the drone was flying into from the sides, in real time, and possibly prevented the crash altogether. While I’m an advocate that a well-designed product shouldn’t require a user manual to operate, this was a humbling reminder that we should truly familiarize ourselves with our equipment before fully deploying it.

To make matters worse, I didn’t even know that this feature existed at the time of flying, and in my opinion, the Vision Assist preview should be turned on by default.

How to Turn On Vision Assist on the DJI Mini 4 Pro

1. Power on and connect your drone and controller as usual.

2. Launch the DJI Fly app.

3. Locate the Mini Map preview in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

4. Swipe right once on the Mini Map to reveal the Attitude Indicator.

5. Swipe right again, and the Vision Assist preview will appear—showing obstacle proximity from various directions in real time.

Once activated, the screen will show you the obstacle avoidance sensor-based previews alongside the preview of what your main camera is filming. This allows you to see more than just what's directly in front of your camera, specifically what your drone is flying into.

Using the Vision Assist View

• Full-Screen Preview: Tap the Vision Assist window to expand it, giving you a larger and clearer look at what the sensors are seeing.

• Directional Preview: You can switch between the front, back, left, and right camera views by tapping the directional arrows on the edges of the Vision Assist window.

• Locking the View: If you want to monitor a specific direction—say, while reversing in a narrow corridor—long-press the arrow for about three seconds to lock the preview. Note that if you don’t lock a direction, the default view will always shift to match the drone’s direction of flight after a few seconds. This automatic re-centering can be helpful for general flying, but it’s something to be aware of when navigating tight areas.

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• Speed Indicator Dot: In the center of the Vision Assist window, a small dot shows the drone’s motion. The faster you're flying, the longer the trail behind the dot—offering a subtle visual cue about your speed and direction.

Why It Matters

Vision Assist becomes particularly useful when flying close to obstacles—ideally within 2.5 to 5 meters. When the drone nears an object, the edges of the preview begin to glow yellow, turning red when you're within 2 meters. These visual alerts can help prevent close calls before they happen.Note: If you don’t see the option for Vision Assist, check the firmware on your drone. This feature was only added starting from firmware version v01.00.0300. Make sure both your drone and RC controller are updated to the latest version. This update also includes other useful improvements that enhance obstacle avoidance and flight control.

The Internet Didn’t Help Either

After the crash, I went digging online—forums, YouTube, Reddit, DJI’s official site—and I was surprised to find very little clear, user-friendly information about the Vision Assist feature. For something this useful, I would expect more pilots to talk about it, or at least a few more tutorials walking through how to properly use it mid-flight. But it’s mostly buried beneath broader feature comparison rundowns or glossed over entirely.

To make matters worse, the user manual included in the box and the online PDF user manual you access via the QR code provided in the package do not mention anything about this function as well. This left users to only discover it by accident, stumble upon it through a firmware update, or learn the hard way like I did after something went wrong.

This lack of visibility adds to the problem. A feature that could make the Mini 4 Pro safer and more intuitive is hiding in plain sight—and unless you are actively looking, you might never know it’s there.

No DJI Refresh Care in Malaysia

DJI Refresh Care is also not supported from where I am, in Malaysia. So there’s no safety net for drone pilots here. A brand-new drone that is damaged during a job can quickly turn from an asset into a liability. That’s a harsh reality for creators here—and it makes learning the drone inside and out before flying it, from day one, even more important.

The Importance of Pre-Flight Awareness

Regardless of how advanced the drone is or how experienced we are in flying, we should always remember the importance of scouting your environment. Before launching into any cinematic move, it pays to hover and rotate—do a slow 360° scan at a safe altitude. Get a feel for the space, spot any potential obstacles (like a random crane), and mentally map your route. Technology helps, but situational awareness is still your first line of defense.

Final Thoughts

Crashing my brand-new Mini 4 Pro was painful, but it came with a hard-earned lesson and a humbling reminder: even with the most advanced tech in your hands, you’re still the pilot. Know your tools, use technology to your advantage, and never make assumptions thinking the defaults will keep you safe.