19981213041989A

(-23) During descent into smf on flight for sna, aircraft encountered moderate to severe turbulence. Two flight attendents at aft galley area were thrown to floor adjacent to the #2 right door of aircraft. One flight attendent suffered a broken ankle and fractured L2 vertibrae. The other flight attendant was injured. (.4) prior to descent from cruise, the cockpit crew advised the second flight attendant, who was later injured, and the third flight attendant by intercom that turbulence was anticipated during descent for landing and for them to secure the cabin and be seated. The second attendant notified the first attendant who directed her attention toward securing first class. The second flight attendant proceeded through the cabin from front to rear, with a trash bag, picking up service items and ensuring that passenger's seat belts were fastened. As she reached the rear of the cabin, turbulence was encountered and both she and the third flight attendant, who was working in the rear galley, took their seats and fastened their seat belts. After 1 or 2 minutes of moderate turbulence, the turbulence ceased and the second and third flight attendants got up to finish their work in the aft galley. Additional turbulence was then encountered which caused the second flight attendant to fall to the floor of the galley. The third flight attendant also fell but landed on the foot of the second attendant, which broke the second attendant's ankle. The fight data recorder output showed that, at one point in the descent, vertical acceleration values varied from 0.65 g's to 2.02 g's over a 1-second period.