Narrative:

Cleared visual to runway 29 at oakland, 2000 ft MSL restr until 6 DME oak VOR. Started descent from 7000 ft. PF asked that 2000 ft be spun into altitude window. As we descended, dark terrain moved up in windscreen. 'Terrain system' was being used, and showed all green. Comments were made by both PF and PNF about how dark it was, very shortly thereafter, GPWS commanded a climb. Procedures utilized, and a rapid climb to 4000 ft MSL was accomplished. Confign and landing uneventful. Lesson learned for me as the first officer: do not ignore that nagging voice that is trying to tell you something. I knew we were very low, fairly far out, below the MSA. Even though the approach was a visual, it just didn't 'seem right.' I plan on being extra cautious at night in regards to approach altitudes and approach guidance. I also believe we were a victim of the 'black hole' phenomenon, and shall be extremely wary of that in the future. I am extremely glad the terrain system was operating, and plan on using it on every approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-500 CREW ON VISUAL APCH TO OAK, EXECUTED AN EGPWS CLB. THE CREW RESPONDED, AND CLBED TO 4000 FT. THE VISUAL APCH WAS EXECUTED ON A VERY DARK NIGHT.

Narrative: CLRED VISUAL TO RWY 29 AT OAKLAND, 2000 FT MSL RESTR UNTIL 6 DME OAK VOR. STARTED DSCNT FROM 7000 FT. PF ASKED THAT 2000 FT BE SPUN INTO ALT WINDOW. AS WE DSNDED, DARK TERRAIN MOVED UP IN WINDSCREEN. 'TERRAIN SYS' WAS BEING USED, AND SHOWED ALL GREEN. COMMENTS WERE MADE BY BOTH PF AND PNF ABOUT HOW DARK IT WAS, VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, GPWS COMMANDED A CLB. PROCS UTILIZED, AND A RAPID CLB TO 4000 FT MSL WAS ACCOMPLISHED. CONFIGN AND LNDG UNEVENTFUL. LESSON LEARNED FOR ME AS THE FO: DO NOT IGNORE THAT NAGGING VOICE THAT IS TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I KNEW WE WERE VERY LOW, FAIRLY FAR OUT, BELOW THE MSA. EVEN THOUGH THE APCH WAS A VISUAL, IT JUST DIDN'T 'SEEM RIGHT.' I PLAN ON BEING EXTRA CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT IN REGARDS TO APCH ALTS AND APCH GUIDANCE. I ALSO BELIEVE WE WERE A VICTIM OF THE 'BLACK HOLE' PHENOMENON, AND SHALL BE EXTREMELY WARY OF THAT IN THE FUTURE. I AM EXTREMELY GLAD THE TERRAIN SYS WAS OPERATING, AND PLAN ON USING IT ON EVERY APCH.

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.