MmowW's Vice Director Pippo here. Nobody wants to think about drone accidents, but understanding your reporting obligations before something goes wrong is essential. Under Part 107, certain incidents trigger mandatory reporting — and failure to report is itself a violation that can lead to certificate action and civil penalties. There are also separate NTSB obligations that many operators overlook. Let me walk you through exactly when, how, and to whom you must report.

Quick Takeaways
  • 14 CFR §107.9 requires reporting to the FAA within 10 calendar days of a qualifying accident.
  • Qualifying triggers: serious injury (hospitalization >48 hrs, bone fracture, severe hemorrhage, 2nd/3rd degree burns >5% body, internal organ damage), loss of consciousness, or property damage ≥$500 (excluding the drone itself).
  • Reports are filed through the FAA DroneZone portal.
  • NTSB reporting (49 CFR Part 830) is separate and requires immediate notification for death, serious injury, or collision with a manned aircraft.
  • You may need to report to BOTH agencies for the same incident.

Table of Contents

  1. FAA Reporting: 14 CFR §107.9
  2. What Qualifies as a Reportable Accident
  3. How to File: DroneZone Process
  4. NTSB Reporting: 49 CFR Part 830
  5. Dual-Agency Scenarios
  6. What Happens After You Report
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Summary

FAA Reporting: 14 CFR §107.9

Section 107.9 of Title 14 establishes the mandatory accident reporting requirement for Part 107 operations. The rule is straightforward in structure but carries significant consequences for non-compliance.

The core requirement: No later than 10 calendar days after an operation that meets any of the reporting thresholds, the remote pilot in command must report the accident to the FAA.
The 10-day clock starts on the date of the accident, not the date you become aware of the full extent of injuries or damage. If a person is hospitalized after your drone strikes them, and you later learn the hospitalization lasted more than 48 hours, the reporting clock still runs from the date of the incident. Report promptly even if you are uncertain whether the threshold is met.

What Qualifies as a Reportable Accident

Under §107.9, you must report any operation that results in at least one of the following:

1. Serious Injury to Any Person

The FAA defines "serious injury" as any injury that requires or results in:

  • Hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 days of the injury.
  • Bone fracture (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose).
  • Severe hemorrhage (significant blood loss requiring medical intervention).
  • Second-degree or third-degree burns affecting more than 5% of body surface.
  • Internal organ damage.
  • Nerve, muscle, or tendon damage.

"Any person" includes everyone — bystanders, crew members, the RPIC, visual observers. It does not matter whether the person was involved in the operation or not.

2. Loss of Consciousness

If any person loses consciousness as a result of the drone operation, regardless of whether other injuries meet the "serious injury" definition, the accident is reportable.

3. Property Damage of $500 or More

If the operation causes damage to any property (other than the small unmanned aircraft itself) with a fair market value of repair or replacement of $500 or more, the accident is reportable.

The $500 threshold excludes damage to the drone. If your drone crashes and is destroyed but nothing else is damaged and no one is injured, the accident is NOT reportable under §107.9. But if your drone crashes through a car windshield, the windshield replacement cost determines reportability.

What Is NOT Reportable Under §107.9

  • Drone crashes with no injury and no property damage (other than to the drone itself).
  • Minor injuries that do not meet the serious injury definition (scrapes, bruises, simple nose fractures).
  • Property damage under $500.
  • Near-misses with manned aircraft (these should be reported through the Aviation Safety Hotline or NASA ASRS, but are not §107.9 events).

How to File: DroneZone Process

Reports under §107.9 are submitted through the FAA DroneZone portal.

Step 1: Log in to faadronezone-access.faa.gov using your FAA account credentials. Step 2: Navigate to the accident reporting section. Step 3: Provide the following information:
  • Date, time, and location of the accident.
  • RPIC name and Remote Pilot Certificate number.
  • Aircraft registration number (FA-XXXXXXXX).
  • Description of what happened.
  • Description of injuries sustained (if any).
  • Description of property damage and estimated cost (if any).
  • Weather conditions at the time.
  • Any contributing factors.

Step 4: Submit the report. Retain a copy for your records.
Document everything immediately. Take photographs of the scene, the drone, any damage, and any injuries. Record witness contact information. Note the GPS coordinates, altitude, battery state, and flight mode at the time of the incident. This documentation will be critical if the FAA or NTSB investigates.

NTSB Reporting: 49 CFR Part 830

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has separate reporting requirements under 49 CFR Part 830 that apply to UAS operations. These requirements are in addition to the FAA reporting obligation — not a substitute.

NTSB Reporting Triggers

You must provide immediate notification to the nearest NTSB field office when a drone operation results in:

  • Death of any person.
  • Serious injury to any person (same definition as above).
  • Collision with a manned aircraft.

"Immediate" means immediately. Unlike the FAA's 10-day window, NTSB notification must happen as soon as practicable after the event. Do not wait. Call the nearest NTSB regional office or the 24-hour response line.

How to Notify the NTSB

  • Phone: Contact the nearest NTSB regional office. A list of offices is available at ntsb.gov.
  • 24-hour line: The NTSB maintains a 24-hour response number for immediate notification.
  • Follow-up: After initial verbal notification, a written report (NTSB Form 6120.1) may be required.

For additional guidance on UAS-specific NTSB reporting, see the NTSB Advisory on Drones.

Dual-Agency Scenarios

Many drone accidents require reporting to BOTH the FAA and the NTSB. Here is when each agency's requirements are triggered:

Scenario FAA (§107.9) NTSB (49 CFR 830)
Serious injury, no death Yes — within 10 days Yes — immediate notification
Death Yes — within 10 days Yes — immediate notification
Collision with manned aircraft Depends on damage/injury Yes — immediate notification
Property damage ≥$500, no injury Yes — within 10 days No
Loss of consciousness only Yes — within 10 days Depends on injury severity
Drone destroyed, no other damage No No

Post-Accident Decision Flow

Accident occurs → Ensure scene safety and provide first aid →

Is anyone dead or seriously injured? → Yes: Call NTSB immediately. Then file FAA report within 10 days. → No: Continue. Did the drone collide with a manned aircraft? → Yes: Call NTSB immediately. Then file FAA report if damage/injury threshold met. → No: Continue. Did anyone lose consciousness? → Yes: File FAA report within 10 days. → No: Continue. Is property damage (excluding drone) ≥$500? → Yes: File FAA report within 10 days. → No: No mandatory report required (but document the incident anyway).

What Happens After You Report

FAA Investigation

The FAA may:

  • Request additional information or documentation.
  • Conduct an investigation, which may include interviewing the RPIC, reviewing flight data, and inspecting the aircraft.
  • Issue findings that could result in no action, a warning letter, or enforcement action.

NTSB Investigation

For incidents reported to the NTSB:

  • The NTSB may launch a formal investigation.
  • The RPIC must preserve all evidence (the drone, flight logs, memory cards, batteries) until released by the NTSB.
  • The NTSB investigation is separate from any FAA enforcement action.

Do not tamper with or repair the drone before the investigation is complete. If the NTSB is involved, the wreckage and all associated data are considered evidence. Moving or repairing the aircraft before being cleared to do so can result in additional penalties.

Consequences of Failure to Report

Failing to file a required accident report under §107.9 is itself a violation of Part 107. Potential consequences include:

  • Civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation.
  • Certificate action — suspension or revocation of the Remote Pilot Certificate.
  • Criminal referral in egregious cases involving death or serious injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

My drone hit a parked car but the damage is only $300. Do I need to report?

No. The property damage threshold under §107.9 is $500. However, you should document the incident thoroughly in case the damage estimate increases, and you may have civil liability to the vehicle owner.

Someone tripped while watching my drone and scraped their knee. Is that reportable?

Only if the injury meets the "serious injury" definition — hospitalization over 48 hours, bone fracture (except fingers/toes/nose), severe hemorrhage, burns over 5% of body, internal organ damage, or loss of consciousness. A scraped knee does not meet these thresholds.

Do I report near-misses with manned aircraft?

Near-misses are not covered by §107.9 or 49 CFR Part 830. However, you should report them through the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) or the FAA Aviation Safety Hotline. Near-miss reports help improve airspace safety data.

What if I'm not sure the damage exceeds $500?

Report it. The FAA prefers over-reporting to under-reporting. Filing an unnecessary report has no negative consequences. Failing to file a required report does.

Can I be prosecuted for filing an accident report?

Filing an accident report does not grant immunity from enforcement action. However, failing to report makes the situation significantly worse. Prompt, honest reporting is viewed favorably in enforcement proceedings.

Summary

Drone accident reporting involves two separate systems that operators must understand before an incident occurs. The FAA requires reporting within 10 calendar days through DroneZone for serious injury, loss of consciousness, or property damage of $500 or more. The NTSB requires immediate notification for death, serious injury, or collision with a manned aircraft. Many incidents trigger both requirements simultaneously. The best practice is simple: if anything goes wrong that involves injury or significant property damage, report it. Document everything at the scene. Preserve the aircraft and flight data. And know the phone number for your nearest NTSB field office before you need it.

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🔍 Regulation last verified: Source: FAA Official

This article is provided for informational purposes only by MmowW / Sawai Gyoseishoshi Office. It does not constitute legal advice. Drone regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the FAA directly. MmowW is not a certification body, auditor, or government authority.

References

  1. 14 CFR §107.9 — Accident Reporting: ecfr.gov
  2. 49 CFR Part 830 — NTSB Notification and Reporting: ecfr.gov
  3. NTSB Advisory on Drones: ntsb.gov
  4. FAA DroneZone: faadronezone-access.faa.gov
  5. NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS): asrs.arc.nasa.gov