Narrative:

While being vectored for the ILS 34 at avl, on the left downwind at 5100 ft MSL, heading 160 degrees, we were given a clearance to 'turn left to 010 degrees to intercept the localizer, maintain 4400 ft until established, cleared for the ILS 34 approach.' during the turn, approximately 090 degree heading, and descending through 4800 ft MSL, we received a 'terrain-pull up' warning from the ground proximity warning system. We adjusted the rate of descent from nearly 1000 FPM to 500 FPM and level at 4400 ft MSL with no further warnings. ILS approach and landing were normal. I commented to the first officer about the 2 antennas sticking out of the clouds (approximately 15 mi sse of avl at 5049 ft and 4240 ft). We entered the clouds while descending to 4400 ft MSL. Later I spoke to the tower controller about the incident and gave him the details. He told me xy air carrier was also experiencing these problems and that avl ATC was collecting as much information as possible from these events for a possible change in their minimum vectoring altitude in that area. (Approximately 15 mi sse of avl on the sug VOR 233 degree radial 18-25 DME.) also, to me, it is now unclr as to whether our cleared altitude was 4600 ft or 4400 ft, but I believe it to be the latter. That altitude corresponds with the initial approach altitude for ILS 34. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: facility atm is aware of the problem. He stated he investigated the GPWS incidents and the controller had descended the aircraft to the correct MVA. Atm stated he was going to have fifo flight check the minimum vectoring altitudes. Analyst stated it was probably set off by the aircraft descent rate into rising terrain.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X GPWS WHEN ISSUED DSCNT TO MVA. EVASIVE ACTION CLB.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS 34 AT AVL, ON THE L DOWNWIND AT 5100 FT MSL, HDG 160 DEGS, WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO 'TURN L TO 010 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE LOC, MAINTAIN 4400 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED, CLRED FOR THE ILS 34 APCH.' DURING THE TURN, APPROX 090 DEG HDG, AND DSNDING THROUGH 4800 FT MSL, WE RECEIVED A 'TERRAIN-PULL UP' WARNING FROM THE GND PROX WARNING SYS. WE ADJUSTED THE RATE OF DSCNT FROM NEARLY 1000 FPM TO 500 FPM AND LEVEL AT 4400 FT MSL WITH NO FURTHER WARNINGS. ILS APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. I COMMENTED TO THE FO ABOUT THE 2 ANTENNAS STICKING OUT OF THE CLOUDS (APPROX 15 MI SSE OF AVL AT 5049 FT AND 4240 FT). WE ENTERED THE CLOUDS WHILE DSNDING TO 4400 FT MSL. LATER I SPOKE TO THE TWR CTLR ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND GAVE HIM THE DETAILS. HE TOLD ME XY ACR WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING THESE PROBS AND THAT AVL ATC WAS COLLECTING AS MUCH INFO AS POSSIBLE FROM THESE EVENTS FOR A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN THEIR MINIMUM VECTORING ALT IN THAT AREA. (APPROX 15 MI SSE OF AVL ON THE SUG VOR 233 DEG RADIAL 18-25 DME.) ALSO, TO ME, IT IS NOW UNCLR AS TO WHETHER OUR CLRED ALT WAS 4600 FT OR 4400 FT, BUT I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE LATTER. THAT ALT CORRESPONDS WITH THE INITIAL APCH ALT FOR ILS 34. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: FACILITY ATM IS AWARE OF THE PROB. HE STATED HE INVESTIGATED THE GPWS INCIDENTS AND THE CTLR HAD DSNDED THE ACFT TO THE CORRECT MVA. ATM STATED HE WAS GOING TO HAVE FIFO FLT CHK THE MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDES. ANALYST STATED IT WAS PROBABLY SET OFF BY THE ACFT DSCNT RATE INTO RISING TERRAIN.

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.