14 CFR 107.9

When do you report a drone accident?

Some drone accidents must be reported to the FAA within 10 days, and a few to the NTSB right away. Here are both rules, the exam traps and practice questions, with the FAA source under each answer.

Part 107, explained · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.

When do you have to report a drone accident to the FAA?

Within 10 calendar days, if the operation involved serious injury to any person, any loss of consciousness, or damage to property other than the drone itself, unless the repair costs $500 or less, or, if the property is a total loss, its fair market value is $500 or less.

Source: 14 CFR 107.9

What the regulation says

§ 107.9 Safety event reporting.

No later than 10 calendar days after an operation that meets the criteria of either paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, a remote pilot in command must report to the FAA, in a manner acceptable to the Administrator, any operation of the small unmanned aircraft involving at least:

(a) Serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness; or

Read all of § 107.9

(b) Damage to any property, other than the small unmanned aircraft, unless one of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) The cost of repair (including materials and labor) does not exceed $500; or (2) The fair market value of the property does not exceed $500 in the event of total loss.

[Docket FAA-2015-0150, Amdt. 107-1, 81 FR 42209, June 28, 2016, as amended by Docket FAA-2022-1355, Amdt. 107-10, 87 FR 75846, Dec. 9 2022]

49 CFR 830.2 Definitions (NTSB): unmanned aircraft accident

Unmanned aircraft accident means an occurrence associated with the operation of any public or civil unmanned aircraft system that takes place between the time that the system is activated with the purpose of flight and the time that the system is deactivated at the conclusion of its mission, in which: (1) Any person suffers death or serious injury; or (2) The aircraft holds an airworthiness certificate and sustains substantial damage.

Sources: 14 CFR 107.9 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 49 CFR 830.2 Definitions (NTSB): unmanned aircraft accident

Exam traps

  • Damage to the drone itself never counts toward the $500.
  • The deadline is 10 calendar days after the operation.
  • Loss of consciousness alone triggers the report, even without a serious injury.
  • A small drone crash with no injury and no damage to other property needs no FAA report, and is not an NTSB unmanned aircraft accident unless the drone holds an airworthiness certificate and is substantially damaged.

Try it: practice questions

Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions.

Practice question 1

Within how many days must an sUAS accident be reported to the FAA?

  1. A 30 days.
  2. B 10 days.
  3. C 90 days.
Show the answer
Answer: B. 10 days.

(According to 14 CFR Part 107.9, accidents must be reported to the FAA within 10 calendar days.)

FAA source: 14 CFR 107.9

Practice question 2

You are part of a news crew, operating an sUAS to cover a breaking story. You experience a flyaway during landing. The unmanned aircraft strikes a vehicle, causing approximately $800 worth of damage. When must you report the accident to the FAA?

  1. A Not to exceed 30 days.
  2. B Within 10 days.
  3. C Any time.
Show the answer
Answer: B. Within 10 days.

(14 CFR 107.9 states that “accidents must be reported to the FAA within 10 calendar days, any operations involving at least: (a) Serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness; or (b) Damage to any property for which the cost of repair exceeds $500” An overnight stay in the hospital would be considered serious injury.)

FAA sources: 14 CFR 107.9 · 14 CFR 107.9(b)(1)

Practice question 3

While operating a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), you experience a flyaway and several people suffer injuries. Which of the following injuries requires reporting to the FAA?

  1. A An injury requiring an overnight hospital stay.
  2. B Minor bruises.
  3. C Scrapes and cuts bandaged on site.
Show the answer
Answer: A. An injury requiring an overnight hospital stay.

(14 CFR 107.9 states that “accidents must be reported to the FAA within 10 calendar days, any operations involving at least: (a) Serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness; or (b) Damage to any property for which the cost of repair exceeds $500” An overnight stay in the hospital would be considered serious injury.)

FAA sources: AC 107-2A 4.4 Accident Reporting · 14 CFR 107.9(a)

When must a drone accident go to the NTSB?

When it is an unmanned aircraft accident under 49 CFR 830.2: any person suffers death or serious injury, or the aircraft holds an airworthiness certificate and sustains substantial damage. The NTSB must then be notified immediately (49 CFR 830.5).

Sources: 49 CFR 830.2 · 49 CFR 830.5

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