An A319 first officer reported that the GPWS sounded during an approach to las.

Attributes
ACN	466549
Time
Date	200003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las.airport
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon tracon : m98.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	466549
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were cleared to descend to 8000 ft and to turn south to follow another air carrier aircraft. With the aircraft in sight, we were cleared to follow it. At this time we did not have the airport in sight. While programming the FMGS, we lost sight of the aircraft in the city lights. The visual approach was continued to 4000 ft. The GPWS alert came on 'terrain.' the captain immediately started a climb up to 5000 ft. ATC advised us of the terrain elevation and to climb to 5000 ft. After a short vector, we got the runway in sight and made a normal landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 FO RPTED THAT THE GPWS SOUNDED DURING AN APCH TO LAS.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 8000 FT AND TO TURN S TO FOLLOW ANOTHER ACR ACFT. WITH THE ACFT IN SIGHT, WE WERE CLRED TO FOLLOW IT. AT THIS TIME WE DID NOT HAVE THE ARPT IN SIGHT. WHILE PROGRAMMING THE FMGS, WE LOST SIGHT OF THE ACFT IN THE CITY LIGHTS. THE VISUAL APCH WAS CONTINUED TO 4000 FT. THE GPWS ALERT CAME ON 'TERRAIN.' THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY STARTED A CLB UP TO 5000 FT. ATC ADVISED US OF THE TERRAIN ELEVATION AND TO CLB TO 5000 FT. AFTER A SHORT VECTOR, WE GOT THE RWY IN SIGHT AND MADE A NORMAL LNDG.

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.