Geotail observations in the near-Earth magnetotail at XGSM=-11RE revealed the small-amplitude bipolar (first tailward then earthward) ion flow signature. Tailward-flow part contained spikes of negative GSM Bz magnetic field, while earthward-flow part included transient Bz increase and subsequent dipolarization. This and similar structures had maximal velocities less than 200 km/s, duration of about one minute and were associated with a stretched magnetotail configuration and substorm activity. We interpret them as tailward-propagating reconnection events involving only magnetic field lines adjacent to the neutral sheet and therefore having low merging rates. Such structures might also be important because they increase the normal magnetic field component and stability in the neutral sheet. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union