# NTSB NYC99LA122: Boeing 737, N16703, Newark, NJ, May 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1999, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Newark, NJ - Location: 40.7242° N, 74.1726° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Newark, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7242&lon=-74.1726&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 76 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46541/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA122 ## Probable cause In flight encounter with turbulence which caused a flight attendant to fall and break two bones in his right leg. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, descent - normal - weather condition - turbulence (cause) ## Analysis While descending through 10,000 feet mean sea level, and traveling in and out of cumulus clouds, the airplane encountered 'lite' turbulence. With the fasten seatbelt sign on, the airplane experienced an 'abrupt' vertical jolt. 'Shortly after', a flight attendant called from the aft galley, and advised the flight crew that a flight attendant was injured during the encounter. A doctor onboard the flight advised the crew that the flight attendant 'probably' broke his ankle. The flight attendant was placed in a passenger seat, and ice was applied to the injury. The captain instructed a dead heading flight attendant to assume the injured flight attendants duties, and requested priority from approach control because of a medical emergency. After landing, the injured flight attendant was removed, and transported to a local hospital for x-rays. Examination of the flight attendant right leg revealed two fractures, one on his tibia and one on his fibula. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 1999, about 1630, eastern daylight time, a Boeing 737, N16703, operated by Continental Airlines as flight 236, encountered turbulence while descending for landing near Newark, New Jersey. The airplane was not damaged. Two flight crewmembers, 6 flight attendants, and 68 passengers were not injured. One flight attendant sustained a serious injury to his ankle. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the scheduled passenger flight that departed Mexico City, Mexico, destined for Newark, New Jersey. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to the captain, while descending through 10,000 feet msl, and traveling in and out of cumulus clouds, the airplane experiences "lite" turbulence. While the fasten seatbelt sign was on, the airplane then experienced an "abrupt" vertical jolt. "Shortly after", a flight attendant called from the aft galley, and advised the flight crew that a flight attendant was injured during the encounter. A doctor onboard the flight advised the crew that the flight attendant "probably" broke his ankle. The flight attendant was placed in a passenger seat, and ice was applied to the injury. The captain instructed a dead heading flight attendant to assume the injured flight attendants duties, and requested priority from approach control because of a medical emergency. After landing, the injured flight attendant was removed, and transported to a local hospital for x-rays. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the operator stated that the flight attendant fractured his right tibia and fibula leg bones. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16703](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16703), registered now, S/N 28764, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-724](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-724) (registry code 13844BY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 287764 - Airframe hours: 3620 - Engines: GE CFM 56-8 28000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Continental Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 26, 1999, 386 hours before - Departed: MEX, MEXICO CITY - Destination: EWR - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EWR ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990525040949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990525040949A), May 25, 1999: Boeing 737724, Newark, NJ. (-23) During descent passing through approx. 10,000 feet a/c encountered turbulance and a flight attendent fell and broke his right tibia and fibula. (.4)while… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.