Boeing 737 accident near Newark, New Jersey, May 25, 1999
On May 25, 1999 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Boeing 737, registered N16703, was involved in an accident near Newark, New Jersey. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 76 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In flight encounter with turbulence which caused a flight attendant to fall and break two bones in his right leg.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1999 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 76 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- N16703 · registry record · serial 287764
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,620 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 26, 1999; 386 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 153,000 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CFM 56-8 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEX Mexico City
- Destination: EWR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from EWR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 8 | ||
| Passengers | 68 |
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.