B732 crew received GPWS terrain warning while operating 100 ft above MSA.

Attributes
ACN	499071
Time
Date	200101
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3200 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon tower : mem.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 14500 flight time type : 2900
ASRS Report	499071
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While level at 5000 ft and IMC, had GPWS sound 1 time (terrain). Advised controller and was told that sometimes that happens in our area. When given a clearance to descend to 3200 ft and having the ground insight, the GPWS again activated and continued to sound as we flew over the ridge and over water (bay area). There was a 30 KT wind at the airport. We were on a left base with runway 11 in sight. The golden gate bridge was visible and the 'terrain, terrain' was still sounding, making it almost impossible to hear approach. We knew we were not in any danger, but did not want to overshoot the final. Climbing a couple of hundred ft still did not silence warning. Finally stopped. Advised approach and landed normally. Oak tower said it's very rare to use this runway and I had only flown in 1 other time. Checked our manuals and you must climb at least 300 ft in order to reset GPWS. I don't think the GPWS needs to be quite that loud -- made communications difficult.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B732 CREW RECEIVED GPWS TERRAIN WARNING WHILE OPERATING 100 FT ABOVE MSA.

Narrative: WHILE LEVEL AT 5000 FT AND IMC, HAD GPWS SOUND 1 TIME (TERRAIN). ADVISED CTLR AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS IN OUR AREA. WHEN GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND TO 3200 FT AND HAVING THE GND INSIGHT, THE GPWS AGAIN ACTIVATED AND CONTINUED TO SOUND AS WE FLEW OVER THE RIDGE AND OVER WATER (BAY AREA). THERE WAS A 30 KT WIND AT THE ARPT. WE WERE ON A L BASE WITH RWY 11 IN SIGHT. THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WAS VISIBLE AND THE 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN' WAS STILL SOUNDING, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR APCH. WE KNEW WE WERE NOT IN ANY DANGER, BUT DID NOT WANT TO OVERSHOOT THE FINAL. CLBING A COUPLE OF HUNDRED FT STILL DID NOT SILENCE WARNING. FINALLY STOPPED. ADVISED APCH AND LANDED NORMALLY. OAK TWR SAID IT'S VERY RARE TO USE THIS RWY AND I HAD ONLY FLOWN IN 1 OTHER TIME. CHKED OUR MANUALS AND YOU MUST CLB AT LEAST 300 FT IN ORDER TO RESET GPWS. I DON'T THINK THE GPWS NEEDS TO BE QUITE THAT LOUD -- MADE COMS DIFFICULT.

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.