<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> A detailed analysis of successive tailward flow bursts in the near-Earth magnetotail (<I>X</I>~&amp;minus;19 <I>R_E</I>) plasma sheet is performed on the basis of in-situ multi-point observations by the Cluster spacecraft on 15 September 2001. The tailward flows were detected during a northward IMF interval, 2.5 h after a substorm expansion. Each flow burst (<I>V_x</I>&amp;lt;300 km/s) was associated with local auroral activation. Enhancements of the parallel and anti-parallel ~1 keV electron flux were detected during the flows. The spacecraft configuration enables to monitor the neutral sheet (<I>B_x</I>&amp;asymp;0) and the level of <I>B_x</I>&amp;asymp;10&amp;ndash;15 nT simultaneously, giving a possibility to distinguish between closed plasmoid-like structures and open NFTE-like surges. The data analysis shows NFTE-like structures and localized current filaments embedded into the tailward plasma flow. 3-D shapes of the structures were reconstructed using the four-point magnetic filed measurements and the particle data.</p>