While attempting to film a low-level flight downriver at Dakota Creek, "Earl" (our drone) went a bit haywire upon starting engines. In fact, although the throttle was on null, it "popped" up into the air and careened sideways immediately after the prop started to turn.
Trying to stabilize the quadcopter, I started to gain altitude to around 20-feet. Earl pitched headlong into the nearest tree, as if "he" were upset with my disinclination to the drone diving into the creek.
Luckily, the bulk of the damage was to the plastic props, of which we have spares. Earl is currently fixed and ready for a test flight tomorrow.