Reporting Drone Incidents: When and How to Notify the FAA

Understanding FAA Reporting Requirements

The Federal Aviation Administration requires drone pilots to report certain incidents and accidents involving unmanned aircraft systems. These reporting requirements exist to improve aviation safety through data collection, identify systemic issues requiring regulatory attention, and ensure accountability when drone operations result in injuries or property damage. Understanding when and how to report incidents is a critical responsibility for all Part 107 pilots.

Many pilots mistakenly believe reporting requirements only apply to large commercial operations or serious accidents. In reality, the threshold for mandatory reporting is lower than most people realize, and failure to report can result in certificate suspension, fines, and other enforcement actions that far exceed the consequences of the original incident.

Accident vs Incident: Critical Definitions

The FAA distinguishes between accidents (which require mandatory reporting) and incidents (which may require reporting depending on circumstances). Understanding these definitions is essential.

What Constitutes an “Accident”

Under 14 CFR Part 107.9, an accident is an occurrence associated with drone operation that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and when all persons have disembarked, in which:

Serious injury occurs: Any injury requiring hospitalization for more than 48 hours within 7 days of the injury, fractures (except simple fractures of fingers or toes), severe hemorrhages or nerve/muscle/tendon damage, internal organ injury, or second or third-degree burns affecting more than 5% of body surface
Loss of consciousness: Any person loses consciousness
Property damage exceeds $500: Damage to property other than the drone itself that exceeds $500 to repair or replace (using fair market value)

Note that damage to the drone itself does not count toward the $500 threshold—only damage to other property. Crashing your $2,000 drone into the ground with no other damage is not a reportable accident. Crashing that same drone into someone’s fence, causing $600 in repair costs, is a reportable accident.

What Constitutes an “Incident”

Incidents are events that don’t meet the accident threshold but still pose safety concerns. Examples include:

Near mid-air collisions with manned aircraft
Loss of control requiring emergency landing
Flyaways or loss of communication requiring activation of contingency procedures
Operations that violated airspace restrictions but caused no damage
Equipment malfunctions that created hazardous situations

While incidents may not always require formal reporting under Part 107.9, pilots should consider reporting them through the FAA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to contribute to safety improvements. ASRS reports provide immunity from certain enforcement actions when filed promptly.

Mandatory Reporting Requirements

Timeline for Reporting (10 Days Critical)

Part 107.9 requires reporting within 10 days of any accident meeting the criteria above. This is a hard deadline—reporting on day 11 constitutes a violation subject to enforcement action.

The 10-day clock starts from the date of the accident, not from when you discover damages exceeded $500 or learned someone was injured. If uncertainty exists about whether an accident is reportable, err on the side of reporting rather than waiting to confirm.

Who Must Report

The remote pilot in command at the time of the accident bears primary responsibility for reporting. However, if operating under a company’s authority, both the individual pilot and the operating company should ensure reporting occurs to avoid confusion about who filed.

For recreational operations under the Exception for Recreational Flyers (44809), the person operating the drone must report accidents to the FAA using the same process as Part 107 pilots.

Where to Report: FAA DroneZone

All accident reports must be submitted through the FAA’s DroneZone portal at faadronezone.faa.gov. The process is straightforward:

Log into your DroneZone account (the same account used for Part 107 certificate applications and drone registration)
Select “Report an Accident” from the menu
Complete the accident report form with required information
Submit the report electronically
Save your confirmation number and submission documentation

DroneZone provides immediate confirmation of submission. Keep this confirmation permanently with your flight records—it proves timely compliance with reporting requirements.

What Information to Include in Reports

Comprehensive accident reports help the FAA understand circumstances and prevent future incidents. Required and recommended information includes:

Required Information

Pilot information: Remote pilot certificate number, name, and contact information
Drone information: Make, model, registration number, and weight
Date, time, and location: Precise accident location with GPS coordinates if available
Nature of injuries: Detailed description of any injuries, persons affected, and medical treatment provided
Property damage: Description of damaged property and estimated repair or replacement cost
Weather conditions: Wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud cover, precipitation
Flight purpose: Commercial, recreational, public safety, etc.

Additional Recommended Information

Narrative description of the accident sequence
Flight mode at time of accident (manual, GPS mode, automated flight, etc.)
Equipment malfunctions or anomalies observed
Pilot actions taken to mitigate consequences
Photographs of accident scene and damaged property
Witness statements and contact information
Flight logs from the drone if available

More detail is always better. Thorough reports demonstrate professionalism and safety consciousness, potentially mitigating enforcement concerns if violations occurred.

Near Mid-Air Collision Reporting

Near mid-air collisions between drones and manned aircraft represent serious safety hazards requiring immediate reporting through separate channels.

What Qualifies as Near Mid-Air Collision (NMAC)

While no precise definition exists, generally consider reporting when:

A manned aircraft passes within 500 feet horizontally or 100 feet vertically of your drone
The manned aircraft pilot takes evasive action because of your drone
You judge the encounter posed collision risk

If uncertainty exists, report. False alarms are preferable to unreported safety hazards.

How to Report NMACs

Report near mid-air collisions through the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization Safety Reporting System:

File online at www.faasafety.gov
Call the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) serving your area
Submit an ASRS report at asrs.arc.nasa.gov for additional safety contribution

Report as soon as possible after the event—same day if feasible. Include all available details about both your drone operation and the manned aircraft involved (type, registration number, altitude, heading).

Consequences of Failure to Report

Failing to report required accidents constitutes a violation of Part 107 regulations with serious consequences.

Enforcement Actions

The FAA may pursue:

Warning letters: For first-time violations with no aggravating factors
Certificate suspension: Temporary suspension of Part 107 remote pilot certificate, typically 30-90 days
Certificate revocation: Permanent loss of certificate for serious violations or repeated non-compliance
Civil penalties: Fines ranging from $1,100 to $32,666 per violation

The severity of enforcement depends on circumstances surrounding both the accident and the reporting failure. Accidents involving injuries or substantial property damage that go unreported face the strictest responses.

How the FAA Discovers Unreported Accidents

Many pilots mistakenly believe unreported accidents will remain unknown to the FAA. Discovery occurs through:

Insurance claims: Insurance companies often notify the FAA when processing drone accident claims
Police reports: Local law enforcement incidents involving drones are frequently forwarded to FAA
Medical reports: Hospitals and emergency rooms report unusual injuries that may involve aviation
Property damage claims: Property owners seeking compensation often file FAA complaints
Witness reports: Bystanders increasingly know to report drone incidents to aviation authorities
Media coverage: News reports of drone accidents trigger FAA investigations

The FAA routinely cross-references these information sources against DroneZone accident reports. When accidents are discovered that should have been reported but weren’t, enforcement actions typically follow.

Statute of Limitations

The FAA has six months from discovering a violation to initiate enforcement proceedings. However, the discovery clock starts when the FAA learns of the violation, not when the accident occurred. An unreported accident discovered two years later still faces enforcement action.

How to Respond to an FAA Investigation

If the FAA contacts you about an accident or potential violation, your response significantly impacts outcomes.

Initial Contact

FAA investigations typically begin with:

Phone call from Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) inspector
Letter of Investigation (LOI) requesting information
Notice to appear for interview

Respond professionally and promptly, but carefully:

Be courteous: Antagonistic responses escalate enforcement
Don’t lie: False statements are separate violations with severe penalties
Provide requested documentation: Flight logs, certificates, registration, maintenance records
Consider legal representation: For serious investigations, consult an aviation attorney before substantive responses

Your Rights During Investigations

You have important protections:

Right to representation: You can have an attorney present during interviews
Right to review evidence: The FAA must disclose evidence supporting enforcement actions
Right to respond: You can provide written explanations and evidence before enforcement decisions
Right to appeal: Enforcement actions can be appealed through administrative law judges

Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) as a Tool

Filing an ASRS report within 10 days of an incident provides limited immunity from certificate suspension (though not financial penalties). ASRS immunity only applies to:

Inadvertent violations (not deliberate or reckless conduct)
Violations that did not result in accidents
First-time use of ASRS immunity (can only be used once every five years)

ASRS reports are confidential and used only for safety research, not enforcement. Even when ASRS immunity doesn’t apply, filing demonstrates safety consciousness and may result in more lenient enforcement.

Proactive Safety Reporting Beyond Requirements

While not required, proactively reporting safety concerns benefits the entire drone community.

Equipment Malfunctions

Report significant equipment problems to:

Manufacturers: So they can issue firmware updates or service bulletins
FAA: Through ASRS to contribute to safety data
Online communities: To warn other pilots of potential issues

Airspace Issues

If you encounter airspace mapping errors, restricted zones not shown on charts, or conflicts between LAANC authorizations and actual airspace conditions, report to:

FAA Flight Standards District Office
LAANC service providers
AirMap, B4UFLY, or other flight planning app developers

Near Misses and Close Calls

Even when not meeting NMAC thresholds, reporting close calls through ASRS helps identify systemic safety issues and prevents future accidents.

Best Practices for Incident Management

Maintain detailed flight logs: Document every flight with date, time, location, conditions, and any anomalies
Photograph accident scenes: Comprehensive photo documentation supports accurate reporting
Preserve evidence: Keep damaged equipment and flight logs until investigations conclude
Report promptly: Don’t wait until day 10—report as soon as you confirm reportability
Be honest and thorough: Complete reporting demonstrates professionalism and may mitigate violations
Follow up on injuries: If initially uncertain whether injuries are “serious,” follow up to confirm
Get cost estimates quickly: Obtain property damage estimates within days to determine reportability
Maintain insurance: Liability coverage helps manage accident consequences
Know your FSD O: Establish relationships with local FAA offices before incidents occur
Consider legal counsel: For serious accidents, early legal advice protects your interests

Conclusion

Accident reporting is a fundamental responsibility of remote pilot certification. The FAA’s reporting requirements exist to improve aviation safety through comprehensive data collection and accountability. Understanding what must be reported, when reports are due, and how to submit complete information protects both your certificate and the broader aviation community. When accidents occur, timely and thorough reporting—combined with honest cooperation with FAA investigations—demonstrates the professionalism expected of certificated remote pilots. The consequences of failing to report are almost always more severe than those of the original accident, making compliance both a legal obligation and a practical imperative.