# Accident 19981213041989A: Boeing 7373B7, Sacramento, CA, December 13, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 13, 1998, 18:40 local time
- Place: Sacramento, CA
- Airport: Sacramento Metropolitan
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: AXWA
- Location: 38.5797° N, 121.4895° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5797&lon=-121.4895&mi=10
- Aircraft: N328AW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 7373B7
- Reported engine: CFMINT CFM563B2
- People aboard: 73
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 135 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA050) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981213041989A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX99LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA050), Dec 14, 1998: Boeing 737-300 (N328AW), Sacramento, CA, no damage. Probable cause: The failure of the second and third flight attendants to comply with instructions to remain seated in anticipation of turbulence.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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