B737 flight crew experienced GPWS event while at 9000 ft on right base to runway 34L after being cle...

Attributes
ACN	719852
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rno.airport
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl single value : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rno.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While descending into rno; approach control put us on about a 6 mi right downwind for runway 34L. We reported the airport in sight abeam the field and were instructed to descend to 9000 ft. We were instructed to turn to about 250 degrees and cleared a visual approach with a square turn to final. This set us up for about a 9 mi final. Both the first officer and I commented on how close we were to the terrain and how this might be a little more interesting at night. At no time did we feel dangerously low. About 3 mi from the centerline; on base; we received a pull-up warning on the GPWS. We had not descended below the assigned 9000 ft. Upon receipt of the warning the first officer correctly began a climb to gain separation from the terrain. The terrain was in sight at all times. I advised approach that we had received pull-up warning and was told you were cleared for the visual. I stated we got the warning at the assigned 9000 ft. We completed the approach and landing without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW EXPERIENCED GPWS EVENT WHILE AT 9000 FT ON R BASE TO RWY 34L AFTER BEING CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING INTO RNO; APCH CTL PUT US ON ABOUT A 6 MI R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 34L. WE RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT ABEAM THE FIELD AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO DSND TO 9000 FT. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO TURN TO ABOUT 250 DEGS AND CLRED A VISUAL APCH WITH A SQUARE TURN TO FINAL. THIS SET US UP FOR ABOUT A 9 MI FINAL. BOTH THE FO AND I COMMENTED ON HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO THE TERRAIN AND HOW THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING AT NIGHT. AT NO TIME DID WE FEEL DANGEROUSLY LOW. ABOUT 3 MI FROM THE CTRLINE; ON BASE; WE RECEIVED A PULL-UP WARNING ON THE GPWS. WE HAD NOT DSNDED BELOW THE ASSIGNED 9000 FT. UPON RECEIPT OF THE WARNING THE FO CORRECTLY BEGAN A CLB TO GAIN SEPARATION FROM THE TERRAIN. THE TERRAIN WAS IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES. I ADVISED APCH THAT WE HAD RECEIVED PULL-UP WARNING AND WAS TOLD YOU WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL. I STATED WE GOT THE WARNING AT THE ASSIGNED 9000 FT. WE COMPLETED THE APCH AND LNDG WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

B737 flight crew experienced GPWS event while at 9000 ft on right base to runway 34L after being cleared for a visual approach.