B737-300 experiences two GPWS warnings on night visual to runway 26 at abq.

Attributes
ACN	810872
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abq.airport
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abq.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 152 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	810872
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 199 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	810863
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport Weather
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While being vectored for a visual approach to runway 26 on left downwind; we were instructed to follow traffic on base to final. With traffic in sight; we planned on turning base to final at 3 DME from the runway at 1000 ft AGL. While attempting to maintain traffic in sight and with a significant wind from the west; our flight path drifted further east than intended. While on a left base; we received 2 ground proximity cautions. After the autoplt was turned off; thrust was added and a climb was initiated. However; neither a go around nor the terrain avoidance maneuver was executed. This would have been the appropriate course of action due to night VMC. When the terrain hazard no longer existed; we continued the visual approach to landing. Situational awareness needs to be maintained to ensure proper ground track. A 3 DME fix from the runway was created in the FMC; but with heading mode selected on the MCP; wind drift was not accounted for. Flying at night in mountainous terrain or with obstacles present; proper procedures must be executed. Trust the GPWS and execute a go around or the terrain avoidance maneuver.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 EXPERIENCES TWO GPWS WARNINGS ON NIGHT VISUAL TO RWY 26 AT ABQ.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 26 ON L DOWNWIND; WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW TFC ON BASE TO FINAL. WITH TFC IN SIGHT; WE PLANNED ON TURNING BASE TO FINAL AT 3 DME FROM THE RWY AT 1000 FT AGL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN TFC IN SIGHT AND WITH A SIGNIFICANT WIND FROM THE W; OUR FLT PATH DRIFTED FURTHER E THAN INTENDED. WHILE ON A L BASE; WE RECEIVED 2 GND PROX CAUTIONS. AFTER THE AUTOPLT WAS TURNED OFF; THRUST WAS ADDED AND A CLB WAS INITIATED. HOWEVER; NEITHER A GAR NOR THE TERRAIN AVOIDANCE MANEUVER WAS EXECUTED. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION DUE TO NIGHT VMC. WHEN THE TERRAIN HAZARD NO LONGER EXISTED; WE CONTINUED THE VISUAL APCH TO LNDG. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED TO ENSURE PROPER GND TRACK. A 3 DME FIX FROM THE RWY WAS CREATED IN THE FMC; BUT WITH HDG MODE SELECTED ON THE MCP; WIND DRIFT WAS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. FLYING AT NIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OR WITH OBSTACLES PRESENT; PROPER PROCS MUST BE EXECUTED. TRUST THE GPWS AND EXECUTE A GAR OR THE TERRAIN AVOIDANCE MANEUVER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.