I am on Alpha 11.5.8 or something like that. SP, easy settings. When I am inside the mining drone (F5 key) and I try to save the game it crashes and does not create a save file. After that if I reload a game then loading crashes. Solution is to exit the game and reload to a previous save before the crash but if its been a while since you last saved or did something to create an auto save it will be bad.
When you say it "Crashes" what exactly happens ? Does the game stop & close ? Does the CoQ/Continue or quit message appear ? <- If yes at just exiting the save game with the drone equipped there is a fix for this in A12. Can you attach a client log ? Client log location: Right click on Empyrion in your steam library > Properties > Local files > Browse local files > Logs - then make a copy of the folder which is named by the build number currently release f.ex 2785 (which is the current public build as of typing this) & compress it the drop it into your reply box or use the upload a file option.