Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly of my Octocopter, Lessons Learned and Questions

It’s a bit dangerous to fly an octocopter without fully understanding the flight modes. Stabilize mode does not make your drone hover automatically. It only levels the angle of the drone. The throttle joystick controls the drone’s throttle directly. Loiter or Althold modes controls the altitude, helping you to hover automatically.

You should make sure you complete the Methodical tuning guide before you fly again.