Narrative:

We were flying the kenno RNAV arrival placing us on the left downwind for 16R. Special airport material was reviewed and we discussed terrain; safety pages; and GPWS issues for the direction of arrival. While norcal was pushing for us to call the field; both the first officer and I were both more comfortable maneuvering toward warmm to get to the approach course where altitude guidance was more available. I requested warmm to maneuver for the visual 16R and field in sight. The request was approved as requested. The first officer; once we agreed on terrain; began a descent to 9000 feet. After further approach; he set lower altitudes while just northeast of the 16R course. The last one set was 6400 feet approximately three NM outside of dicey with his plan being too slowly approach the altitude between GS intercept and dicey. [Flaps were 5700 fpm descent] when yellow terrain indications became apparent on the terr display. Simultaneously; we received the 'caution terrain' alert. Altitude was 6600 feet. I directed a go-around as the first officer also worked to adjust flight path. The subsequent approach from a 360-degree turn was smooth and uneventful. Very simple after review and debrief. We should have descended no lower than 7100 feet in that particular location. Briefings and review of terrain and safety material was thorough; but we did not use a conservative altitude value in that spot. My future visual approaches at rno will be flown using stricter ILS altitude guidance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 Captain experiences an EGPWS terrain caution at 6;600 feet during a night visual approach to Runway 16R at RNO and goes around.

Narrative: We were flying the KENNO RNAV Arrival placing us on the left downwind for 16R. Special airport material was reviewed and we discussed terrain; safety pages; and GPWS issues for the direction of arrival. While NorCal was pushing for us to call the field; both the FO and I were both more comfortable maneuvering toward WARMM to get to the approach course where altitude guidance was more available. I requested WARMM to maneuver for the visual 16R and field in sight. The request was approved as requested. The FO; once we agreed on terrain; began a descent to 9000 feet. After further approach; he set lower altitudes while just northeast of the 16R course. The last one set was 6400 feet approximately three NM outside of DICEY with his plan being too slowly approach the altitude between GS intercept and DICEY. [Flaps were 5700 fpm descent] when yellow terrain indications became apparent on the TERR display. Simultaneously; we received the 'CAUTION TERRAIN' alert. Altitude was 6600 feet. I directed a go-around as the FO also worked to adjust flight path. The subsequent approach from a 360-degree turn was smooth and uneventful. Very simple after review and debrief. We should have descended no lower than 7100 feet in that particular location. Briefings and review of terrain and safety material was thorough; but we did not use a conservative altitude value in that spot. My future visual approaches at RNO will be flown using stricter ILS altitude guidance.

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.