Pilots can Now File NTSB Reports Online
- Shashwat Dwivedi
- Apr 4
- 1 min read
A secure online platform has been launched for pilots and aircraft operators to submit aviation related accident and incident reports online. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) introduced the platform this week to facilitate easier and smoother recording of such events. This platform replaces an older and somewhat cumbersome system where a user had to download, complete, and email a fillable PDF form.
This new platform will allow users to directly fill the NTSB form 6120.1 directly from a computer or mobile device, streaming the process for those completing the form as well as the investigators, who will no longer have to manually input the data when they are working on a case.
Under federal regulations, pilots or operators must report accidents to the NTSB “immediately, and by the most expeditious means available.” After making an initial report by calling the NTSB’s 24-hour response operations center at 844-373-9922, an investigator determines whether a formal investigation is required. If so, the pilot or operator must complete Form 6120.1, which can now be submitted online.
The NTSB stated the new platform will allow for a more efficient method of complaint registration. Users can save the progress of their form midway and check the status of their complaint on the platform.
Preserving aircraft wreckage and relevant documents following an accident are the responsibilities of the pilot and the aircraft operator until the NTSB or its representatives take custody, unless removal is necessary to protect individuals or prevent further damage.
The NTSB receives approximately 1,000 accident reports a year. The transition to a platform that simplifies complaint submission is going to benefit users and investigators alike.
