<< >> NASA ASRS Report 329185, February 1996

An air carrier, being vectored over high terrain in IMC reacts to a GPWS terrain warning. A facility supervisor acknowledged that the GPWS goes off often in this area.

Attributes
ACN	329185
Time
Date	199602
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fmg airport : rno
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rno
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-83
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	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 : 240 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 240
ASRS Report	329185
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

On feb/sun/96 during approach phase of arrival into rno we experienced a GPWS warning of 'terrain' followed by 'pull up.' we were being vectored by approach control at 9000 ft approximately 160 degree radial 12 DME from rno when the warning sound occurred. We promptly climbed to 10000 ft and asked the minimum vectoring altitude. The controller indicated 9000 ft. We were subsequently vectored around for a successful full stop. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter was flying an MD83 when the GPWS alarm 'terrain, terrain' sounded and the flight crew reacted properly. A little later, another air carrier had the same thing happen. After landing and during a phone call to TRACON, the captain was told by a supervisor that this happens all the time over hazen mountain. The mountain is about 7800 ft high with a tower on it so the GPWS goes off. The captain tried to explain the importance of a proper reaction to a GPWS warning to the supervisor, but was unsure if he was communicating his concern to the proper person.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR, BEING VECTORED OVER HIGH TERRAIN IN IMC REACTS TO A GPWS TERRAIN WARNING. A FACILITY SUPVR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE GPWS GOES OFF OFTEN IN THIS AREA.

Narrative: ON FEB/SUN/96 DURING APCH PHASE OF ARR INTO RNO WE EXPERIENCED A GPWS WARNING OF 'TERRAIN' FOLLOWED BY 'PULL UP.' WE WERE BEING VECTORED BY APCH CTL AT 9000 FT APPROX 160 DEG RADIAL 12 DME FROM RNO WHEN THE WARNING SOUND OCCURRED. WE PROMPTLY CLBED TO 10000 FT AND ASKED THE MINIMUM VECTORING ALT. THE CTLR INDICATED 9000 FT. WE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY VECTORED AROUND FOR A SUCCESSFUL FULL STOP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS FLYING AN MD83 WHEN THE GPWS ALARM 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN' SOUNDED AND THE FLC REACTED PROPERLY. A LITTLE LATER, ANOTHER ACR HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. AFTER LNDG AND DURING A PHONE CALL TO TRACON, THE CAPT WAS TOLD BY A SUPVR THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME OVER HAZEN MOUNTAIN. THE MOUNTAIN IS ABOUT 7800 FT HIGH WITH A TWR ON IT SO THE GPWS GOES OFF. THE CAPT TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROPER REACTION TO A GPWS WARNING TO THE SUPVR, BUT WAS UNSURE IF HE WAS COMMUNICATING HIS CONCERN TO THE PROPER PERSON.

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.