Narrative:

We had been cleared for descent to 3000 ft, proceeding direct to the bdl VOR. Approach said to call airport in sight for a 'visual' to runway 15. We were approximately 10-15 mi out on he 330 degree radial off of bdl VOR. At 3500 ft MSL, the terrain warning alert sounded (I do not recall exact descent rate, but I would guess in excess of 1000 FPM, but less than 2000 FPM). Shortly after terrain,terrain, we got the 'whoop, whoop, pull up.' I added power and started a climb. The warning continued, but stopped at approximately 4500 ft MSL. Leveled at 4700 ft and 'approach' called. He said he showed us at 4700 ft and if we could get down for runway 15. We informed him of our GPWS alert and requested a downwind for runway 24. We were cleared as such and continued descent and landing with no further incident. No conflict had occurred. Our mechanic informed us (once at the gate) that he had heard of at least 10 or 12 similar incidents in past month with other aircraft. His estimation was that it could have been snow blowing equipment up on ridge or thereabouts. The MSA for our area was 3100 ft and MOCA on chart was 3800 ft. Although well above terrain (3500 ft MSL) procedures were followed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO OF ACR MLG ACFT PULLED UP FROM DSCNT FOR APCH IN RESPONSE TO A GPWS WARNING WHILE OPERATING AT ABOVE THE MSA ALT FOR THE AREA.

Narrative: WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR DSCNT TO 3000 FT, PROCEEDING DIRECT TO THE BDL VOR. APCH SAID TO CALL ARPT IN SIGHT FOR A 'VISUAL' TO RWY 15. WE WERE APPROX 10-15 MI OUT ON HE 330 DEG RADIAL OFF OF BDL VOR. AT 3500 FT MSL, THE TERRAIN WARNING ALERT SOUNDED (I DO NOT RECALL EXACT DSCNT RATE, BUT I WOULD GUESS IN EXCESS OF 1000 FPM, BUT LESS THAN 2000 FPM). SHORTLY AFTER TERRAIN,TERRAIN, WE GOT THE 'WHOOP, WHOOP, PULL UP.' I ADDED PWR AND STARTED A CLB. THE WARNING CONTINUED, BUT STOPPED AT APPROX 4500 FT MSL. LEVELED AT 4700 FT AND 'APCH' CALLED. HE SAID HE SHOWED US AT 4700 FT AND IF WE COULD GET DOWN FOR RWY 15. WE INFORMED HIM OF OUR GPWS ALERT AND REQUESTED A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 24. WE WERE CLRED AS SUCH AND CONTINUED DSCNT AND LNDG WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. NO CONFLICT HAD OCCURRED. OUR MECH INFORMED US (ONCE AT THE GATE) THAT HE HAD HEARD OF AT LEAST 10 OR 12 SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN PAST MONTH WITH OTHER ACFT. HIS ESTIMATION WAS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN SNOW BLOWING EQUIP UP ON RIDGE OR THEREABOUTS. THE MSA FOR OUR AREA WAS 3100 FT AND MOCA ON CHART WAS 3800 FT. ALTHOUGH WELL ABOVE TERRAIN (3500 FT MSL) PROCS WERE FOLLOWED.

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.