Air carrier flight crew receives terrain; terrain warning while performing localizer approach to run...

Attributes
ACN	812978
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jst.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils other localizer
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	812978
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Navigational Facility Aircraft Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While on ILS; localizer approach to runway 33 in jst first officer was PF. We were informed by both our NOTAMS and ATC that the ILS was out on runway 33. We elected to execute a localizer approach to runway 33. The approach procedure was to descend to 3000 ft after the final approach fix. We broke out of the clouds at about 6000 ft and had visual contact with the ground along with about 5 mi of forward visibility. While descending to 3000 ft I commented to first officer that the ridge in front of us appeared to be close to our altitude. At that time I turned on the terrain awareness and noticed that the terrain was very close to our altitude. I double-checked the step down fix and confirmed that it was indeed 3000 ft and that we had indeed tuned in the proper localizer frequency. At that time we received a terrain terrain; pull-up. First officer took immediate action and initiated a climb to approximately 3500 ft. The GPWS warning ceased and we continued the approach and landing without incident. It would appear that there was a problem with the localizer or procedure that caused us to come too close to the ridge. Otherwise there may have been a problem with the onboard equipment. Unsure; it would appear that we followed the proper approach procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW RECEIVES TERRAIN; TERRAIN WARNING WHILE PERFORMING LOC APPROACH TO RWY 33 AT JST. ILS WAS NOTAMED OUT OF SERVICE.

Narrative: WHILE ON ILS; LOC APCH TO RWY 33 IN JST FO WAS PF. WE WERE INFORMED BY BOTH OUR NOTAMS AND ATC THAT THE ILS WAS OUT ON RWY 33. WE ELECTED TO EXECUTE A LOC APCH TO RWY 33. THE APCH PROC WAS TO DSND TO 3000 FT AFTER THE FINAL APCH FIX. WE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT ABOUT 6000 FT AND HAD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GND ALONG WITH ABOUT 5 MI OF FORWARD VISIBILITY. WHILE DSNDING TO 3000 FT I COMMENTED TO FO THAT THE RIDGE IN FRONT OF US APPEARED TO BE CLOSE TO OUR ALT. AT THAT TIME I TURNED ON THE TERRAIN AWARENESS AND NOTICED THAT THE TERRAIN WAS VERY CLOSE TO OUR ALT. I DOUBLE-CHKED THE STEP DOWN FIX AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED 3000 FT AND THAT WE HAD INDEED TUNED IN THE PROPER LOC FREQ. AT THAT TIME WE RECEIVED A TERRAIN TERRAIN; PULL-UP. FO TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION AND INITIATED A CLB TO APPROX 3500 FT. THE GPWS WARNING CEASED AND WE CONTINUED THE APCH AND LNDG WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE WAS A PROB WITH THE LOC OR PROC THAT CAUSED US TO COME TOO CLOSE TO THE RIDGE. OTHERWISE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A PROB WITH THE ONBOARD EQUIP. UNSURE; IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WE FOLLOWED THE PROPER APCH PROC.

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.

Air carrier flight crew receives terrain; terrain warning while performing localizer approach to runway 33 at jst. ILS was notamed out of service.