Air carrier X radar vectored below MVA. GPWS activated.

Attributes
ACN	181299
Time
Date	199106
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6100 msl bound upper : 6800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	181291
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X on radar vectors for a visibility approach to las approximately 12 mi southeast of airport. Clearance was given to descend from 8000 to 6100'. I complied. Level at 6100' on a 020 degree assigned heading, the ground proximity sounded, 'whoop, whoop, pull up.' being night and aware of mountains in the area, I applied go around thrust and climbed. At approximately 6800' the warning stopped and the terrain warning started. The radar altimeter showed approximately 800-1000' clearance. We were not able to communicate with approach due to frequency congestion. We could then see visually that we were clear of terrain at that point. Approach then handed us to tower and cleared us for a visibility approach to 25R. I believe the 6100' altitude assignment was an error, and that reliance on MVA by approach controls in the past let us accept this without questioned the altitude. Not again!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X RADAR VECTORED BELOW MVA. GPWS ACTIVATED.

Narrative: ACR X ON RADAR VECTORS FOR A VIS APCH TO LAS APPROX 12 MI SE OF ARPT. CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO DSND FROM 8000 TO 6100'. I COMPLIED. LEVEL AT 6100' ON A 020 DEG ASSIGNED HDG, THE GND PROX SOUNDED, 'WHOOP, WHOOP, PULL UP.' BEING NIGHT AND AWARE OF MOUNTAINS IN THE AREA, I APPLIED GAR THRUST AND CLBED. AT APPROX 6800' THE WARNING STOPPED AND THE TERRAIN WARNING STARTED. THE RADAR ALTIMETER SHOWED APPROX 800-1000' CLRNC. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH APCH DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION. WE COULD THEN SEE VISUALLY THAT WE WERE CLR OF TERRAIN AT THAT POINT. APCH THEN HANDED US TO TWR AND CLRED US FOR A VIS APCH TO 25R. I BELIEVE THE 6100' ALT ASSIGNMENT WAS AN ERROR, AND THAT RELIANCE ON MVA BY APCH CTLS IN THE PAST LET US ACCEPT THIS WITHOUT QUESTIONED THE ALT. NOT AGAIN!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.