GPWS. Descent clearance too low for terrain.

Attributes
ACN	326944
Time
Date	199601
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3200
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : alb
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	326944
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on approach to alb and being vectored for ILS runway 01 at alb we experienced a GPWS warning. We initiated an immediate climb back to 3200 ft MSL. Continued approach and vectors to 3000 ft MSL. ILS approach and landing were normal. I called alb approach, and spoke with supervisor. Asked if they saw anything which might have caused warning. They did not. But, did mention we had just passed from a 3400 ft MSA to a 2500 ft MSA sector. Also, on the approach plate, 11-2, there is a tower in the southwest sector that is 2140 ft MSL, high! Might have caused warning. I've never heard of such a thing causing a GPWS warning. Also, thought controller's depiction on scope might be off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GPWS. DSCNT CLRNC TOO LOW FOR TERRAIN.

Narrative: WHILE ON APCH TO ALB AND BEING VECTORED FOR ILS RWY 01 AT ALB WE EXPERIENCED A GPWS WARNING. WE INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE CLB BACK TO 3200 FT MSL. CONTINUED APCH AND VECTORS TO 3000 FT MSL. ILS APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. I CALLED ALB APCH, AND SPOKE WITH SUPVR. ASKED IF THEY SAW ANYTHING WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED WARNING. THEY DID NOT. BUT, DID MENTION WE HAD JUST PASSED FROM A 3400 FT MSA TO A 2500 FT MSA SECTOR. ALSO, ON THE APCH PLATE, 11-2, THERE IS A TWR IN THE SW SECTOR THAT IS 2140 FT MSL, HIGH! MIGHT HAVE CAUSED WARNING. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING CAUSING A GPWS WARNING. ALSO, THOUGHT CTLR'S DEPICTION ON SCOPE MIGHT BE OFF.

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.