Narrative:

At 3;000 feet and heading north; after being turned from a left downwind towards final for 14R; we were given a vector which was quite 'sharp' and would have resulted in localizer intercept near filer; which defines the glideslope at 1;800 MSL (about 800 AGL). Because of this; after calling field in sight at about 8 miles out; I took a heading cut to the right to facilitate a stable approach and localizer intercept before glideslope intercept. The glideslope indicator became 'alive' with localizer still off scale to the right (in retrospect this may have been a false indication); so I set 2;000 feet in the altitude window and started down; not wanting to intercept the glideslope before the localizer. I selected 2;000 because I knew the glideslope at filer was 1;800 and I knew my cut right would place me outside of filer. However; because of the poor vector given by ATC initially; it took longer than I anticipated getting over to the localizer; making my election to descend to 2;000 feet too early. At about 2;200 feet; we received a GPWS warning for 'obstacle'. We both spotted the tower at this point ahead and to our left. This tower is depicted at about 7 miles from the field on the approach plate; but is partially obscured by an arrow. We could see that we were well clear of it; and because we were VMC; I elected not to start a big climb which might result in an unstable approach. Since the plane was beginning to level on its own at 2;000 feet; I kept the autopilot on. At about 2;000 feet; we got the GPWS 'pull up' warning. We confirmed we both had the tower in sight well out to our left; and I clicked the autopilot off and executed a controlled climb to about 2;300 feet. The localizer and glideslope both captured shortly after that and I continued the approach without incident. I did not notice the tower on the approach plate during the brief. ATC cut me in too sharply on their initial heading. I selected too low of an altitude to descend to. I feel that the depiction of the tower on the approach plate is inadequate; since the tower symbol is obscured by a black arrow; and the altitude numerals can get lost in the clutter of the 'feather' and the procedure turn. ATC should not have given me such a large cut for an initial vector towards the field. I should not have set and descended to an altitude below the 3 degree glidepath.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reports descending to 2;000 feet outside FILER during a visual approach to Runway 14R at OMA. This triggers an obstacle warning then a GPWS pull up warning. The 1;800 foot tower causing the warning is insight and a slight climb is initiated to intercept the glideslope.

Narrative: At 3;000 feet and heading north; after being turned from a left downwind towards final for 14R; we were given a vector which was quite 'sharp' and would have resulted in localizer intercept near FILER; which defines the glideslope at 1;800 MSL (about 800 AGL). Because of this; after calling field in sight at about 8 miles out; I took a heading cut to the right to facilitate a stable approach and localizer intercept before glideslope intercept. The glideslope indicator became 'alive' with localizer still off scale to the right (in retrospect this may have been a false indication); so I set 2;000 feet in the altitude window and started down; not wanting to intercept the glideslope before the localizer. I selected 2;000 because I knew the glideslope at FILER was 1;800 and I knew my cut right would place me outside of FILER. However; because of the poor vector given by ATC initially; it took longer than I anticipated getting over to the localizer; making my election to descend to 2;000 feet too early. At about 2;200 feet; we received a GPWS warning for 'Obstacle'. We both spotted the tower at this point ahead and to our left. This tower is depicted at about 7 miles from the field on the approach plate; but is partially obscured by an arrow. We could see that we were well clear of it; and because we were VMC; I elected not to start a big climb which might result in an unstable approach. Since the plane was beginning to level on its own at 2;000 feet; I kept the autopilot on. At about 2;000 feet; we got the GPWS 'Pull Up' warning. We confirmed we both had the tower in sight well out to our left; and I clicked the autopilot off and executed a controlled climb to about 2;300 feet. The localizer and glideslope both captured shortly after that and I continued the approach without incident. I did not notice the tower on the approach plate during the brief. ATC cut me in too sharply on their initial heading. I selected too low of an altitude to descend to. I feel that the depiction of the tower on the approach plate is inadequate; since the tower symbol is obscured by a black arrow; and the altitude numerals can get lost in the clutter of the 'feather' and the procedure turn. ATC should not have given me such a large cut for an initial vector towards the field. I should not have set and descended to an altitude below the 3 degree glidepath.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.