con-pilot:
The NTSB will not be involved in this case.
The NTSB handles appeals of pilots/others who are charged with a violation and ruled against by FAA legal. Step 1 is to request a hearing/appeal before an NTSB administrative law judge.
If the NTSB ALJ also rules against the pilot(s) then the pilot(s) can appeal to the full NTSB Board.
Unrelated to this, the NTSB in its investigative capacity has been more proactive in recent years, electing to investigate some incidents that were not considered to be accidents.