ORLANDO, Fla. — A recent National Transportation Safety Board report found that several configuration mistakes and insufficient oversight caused the drone crash at Lake Eola during a holiday light show, which seriously injured a 7-year-old boy.
On December 21, 2024, Sky Elements LLC’s drone show with 500 drones , causing midair collisions, some drones falling, one hitting 7-year-old Zander causing serious injuries.
The NTSB reported that an incorrect center point was entered into the software for the drone show, placing it about 5 meters (16.4 feet) off from the intended location. This error caused the system to assign drones to incorrect flight paths.
Investigators also discovered the show’s heading was entered incorrectly and rotated by about 7 degrees. The misalignment shifted the show’s flight position by about 18 meters, or 59 feet, closer to spectators.
The NTSB reported that errors led to several drones crossing paths during takeoff, causing collisions seen on video. Investigators found that when the show center was adjusted, only 498 of 500 drones were updated, leaving two with different positions.
The report concluded that the probable cause of the accident was the remote pilot-in-command’s failure to correctly position the show’s center over the physical drone launch location.
NTSB investigators found Sky Elements lowered its geofence buffer from 5 to 1 meter just 12 days before the show, but the pilot didn’t update the laptop, leaving a larger 5-meter buffer that reduced safety.
The investigation found Sky Elements lacked a formal process for independent verification of critical show parameters before launch. The NTSB said no cross-check system led to undetected mistakes like incorrect show center location, improper heading, inconsistent drone updates, and nonstandard geofence settings.
The report noted that five drones failed to accept launch data five minutes before the show, prompting troubleshooting. A system reboot fixed most issues, but two drones were removed.
After the loss-of-control event, the pilot told investigators he continued monitoring the remaining drones and decided the safest option was to let the show continue rather than pause and recover drones in midair. The remaining drones finished the performance without incident.
Forty-two recovered drones were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory; one was recovered by law enforcement, and five that fell into Lake Eola were never found.
Since the crash, Sky Elements told the NTSB it has added safety measures: more setup time before shows, verification from a chief pilot or second-in-command before launch, and expanded remote pilot training.
Channel 9 has reached out to Sky Elements for comment on the latest findings but has not received a response.
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