Narrative:

While being radar vectored over hilly terrain to an approach at tjsj; we were cleared to descend from approximately 12000 ft to 7000 ft. Passing through 9500 ft; and while passing through a heavy rain shower; ATC reclred us to level off at 9000 ft. The radar altimeter started to unwind very rapidly and a terrain warning sounded. I executed the published GPWS escape maneuver; climbing to 10500 ft. During the maneuver; the radar altimeter descended to as low as 400 ft before climbing back above 2500 ft. The captain advised ATC that we were responding to a terrain warning and asked for the MVA. ATC reported that the MVA in the area was 6000 ft and we were reclred to descend. We proceeded to execute a normal ILS approach to tjsj and landed without further incident. Upon arrival; we debriefed the incident with the flight attendants. They reported no injuries and expressed no concerns over the flight. The #2 flight attendant did state that while doing 'prepare for landing' compliance checks; she did fall to her knees; but affirmed that she was unhurt and needed no assistance. Several hours later; the #2 flight attendant stated that she intended to report the incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 ON VECTORS FOR TJSJ RECEIVES A TERRAIN WARNING; EXECUTES GPWS ESCAPE MANEUVER AND A FLT ATTENDANT IS SLIGHTLY INJURED.

Narrative: WHILE BEING RADAR VECTORED OVER HILLY TERRAIN TO AN APCH AT TJSJ; WE WERE CLRED TO DSND FROM APPROX 12000 FT TO 7000 FT. PASSING THROUGH 9500 FT; AND WHILE PASSING THROUGH A HVY RAIN SHOWER; ATC RECLRED US TO LEVEL OFF AT 9000 FT. THE RADAR ALTIMETER STARTED TO UNWIND VERY RAPIDLY AND A TERRAIN WARNING SOUNDED. I EXECUTED THE PUBLISHED GPWS ESCAPE MANEUVER; CLBING TO 10500 FT. DURING THE MANEUVER; THE RADAR ALTIMETER DSNDED TO AS LOW AS 400 FT BEFORE CLBING BACK ABOVE 2500 FT. THE CAPT ADVISED ATC THAT WE WERE RESPONDING TO A TERRAIN WARNING AND ASKED FOR THE MVA. ATC RPTED THAT THE MVA IN THE AREA WAS 6000 FT AND WE WERE RECLRED TO DSND. WE PROCEEDED TO EXECUTE A NORMAL ILS APCH TO TJSJ AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. UPON ARR; WE DEBRIEFED THE INCIDENT WITH THE FLT ATTENDANTS. THEY RPTED NO INJURIES AND EXPRESSED NO CONCERNS OVER THE FLT. THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT DID STATE THAT WHILE DOING 'PREPARE FOR LNDG' COMPLIANCE CHKS; SHE DID FALL TO HER KNEES; BUT AFFIRMED THAT SHE WAS UNHURT AND NEEDED NO ASSISTANCE. SEVERAL HRS LATER; THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT STATED THAT SHE INTENDED TO RPT THE INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.