Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Beach Haven, New Jersey 08008
Wednesday, April 14, 2004 17:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane encountered moderate turbulence in cruise flight at 21,000 feet. The passengers were seated and the fasten seatbelt sign was illuminated. The flight attendants were also instructed to take their seats. While attempting to sit down, a flight attendant fell to the floor and suffered a fractured ankle.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An encounter with turbulence during cruise flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Beach Haven
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08008
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393124N
Event Location Longitude 0740819W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID ACY
Elevation of weather observation facility 144
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.61
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 121
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17047
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Com Center
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Farmingdale, NY

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N448WN
NTSB Number NYC04LA107
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing
Aircraft Model 737-700
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 33721
Certified Max Gross Weight 154500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 145
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Apr 12 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 2260
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Southwest Airlines Company
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Dallas
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75235
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code SWAA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BWI
Departure City Baltimore
Departure State MD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1705
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ISP
Destination City Islip
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2004 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --