FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Incident Reports, September-November 2019

This document is a comprehensive, chronological compilation of FAA reports detailing unauthorized Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) sightings across the United States from July 2019 through early December 2019. Each entry provides the date, location, and a summary of the incident, often including the type of aircraft involved, the altitude and position of the drone relative to the aircraft, and the actions taken by the flight crew and air traffic control. The reports frequently describe small, quadcopter-style drones, often white, black, or silver in color, frequently sighted during the final approach or departure phases of flight near major airports. Many reports indicate that the drones were in close proximity to manned aircraft, sometimes within a few hundred feet, though most pilots reported that no evasive action was necessary. In several instances, pilots described the objects as 'near misses' or 'hazardous.' The document highlights the recurring nature of these incidents, with reports coming from diverse locations including major metropolitan areas like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, as well as smaller regional airports. The response to these sightings varied; in many cases, local law enforcement was notified, though the drones were often gone by the time authorities arrived. Some reports mention the involvement of federal agencies such as the FBI, the US Secret Service, or the Department of Homeland Security, particularly when incidents occurred near sensitive locations like the US Capitol or nuclear power plants. The document serves as a record of the increasing frequency and operational challenges posed by unauthorized drone activity in controlled airspace during the latter half of 2019.