DC9 crew executed a GPWS escape maneuver. Aircraft was at the MVA at the time of occurrence.

Attributes
ACN	564990
Time
Date	200211
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abe.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abe.tracon tower : phx.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	controller military : 10 controller radar : 25 flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	564990
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft FAA ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	computer equipment : abe.tracon procedure or policy : abe.tracon
Publication	MINIMUM VECTORING ALT

Narrative:

We got the GPWS 'pull up' command when crossing the ridge (blue mountain?) approximately 12 NM northwest of abe airport. The concern is that we were level at 3000 ft MSL on radar vectors to the base turn for runway 24 at abe. As we crossed the ridge, we were doing 210 KTS with flaps at 5 degrees. We were told by approach that the MSA is 2800 ft, and that there are no obstacles or aircraft near us. What concerns me is that our GPWS warning and evasive maneuver were considered 'normal' by the controller. This was further enforced when deplaning pilot from another carrier stuck his head in the cockpit and asked if we had gotten the GPWS warning when we crossed the ridge. He said it happens all the time when you cross the mountains at 3000 ft and he couldn't understand why ATC still does it. I'm concerned for all pilots, including myself, that we may ignore future GPWS warnings when flying into abe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW EXECUTED A GPWS ESCAPE MANEUVER. ACFT WAS AT THE MVA AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE.

Narrative: WE GOT THE GPWS 'PULL UP' COMMAND WHEN XING THE RIDGE (BLUE MOUNTAIN?) APPROX 12 NM NW OF ABE ARPT. THE CONCERN IS THAT WE WERE LEVEL AT 3000 FT MSL ON RADAR VECTORS TO THE BASE TURN FOR RWY 24 AT ABE. AS WE CROSSED THE RIDGE, WE WERE DOING 210 KTS WITH FLAPS AT 5 DEGS. WE WERE TOLD BY APCH THAT THE MSA IS 2800 FT, AND THAT THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES OR ACFT NEAR US. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT OUR GPWS WARNING AND EVASIVE MANEUVER WERE CONSIDERED 'NORMAL' BY THE CTLR. THIS WAS FURTHER ENFORCED WHEN DEPLANING PLT FROM ANOTHER CARRIER STUCK HIS HEAD IN THE COCKPIT AND ASKED IF WE HAD GOTTEN THE GPWS WARNING WHEN WE CROSSED THE RIDGE. HE SAID IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU CROSS THE MOUNTAINS AT 3000 FT AND HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY ATC STILL DOES IT. I'M CONCERNED FOR ALL PLTS, INCLUDING MYSELF, THAT WE MAY IGNORE FUTURE GPWS WARNINGS WHEN FLYING INTO ABE.

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.