Boeing 737-700 accident near Beach Haven, New Jersey, April 14, 2004
On April 14, 2004 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Boeing 737-700, registered N448WN, was involved in an accident near Beach Haven, New Jersey. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 121 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with turbulence during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2004 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Beach Haven, New Jersey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 121 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-700 · all 737-700s on the register
- Registration
- N448WN · registry record · serial 33721
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 9,500 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 2, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 12, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,260 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 12, 2004; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Seats: 145
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM-56 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM-56 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BWI Baltimore MD at 9:05 pm
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.61 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from ACY, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 117 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.