While descending for a visual approach to avp runway 4 the flight crew of an air carrier jet receive...

Narrative:

On ATC vector for base; approach cleared us for visual runway 4 at avp about 5 to 6 mile out at 4;000 ft (which is MSA for that airport. Starting our descending turn toward runway 4 we got GPWS terrain warning pull up; so we executed a climb; which put us too high for approach into avp; as a result; I cancel my visual clearance; and this time I asked for an ILS approach into runway 4; at this time my altitude was 2;500 and climbing; when we handed down to approach control; he gave us low altitude warning and ask if we have the terrain in sight; and we told them we do have all terrain in sight and he climbed us to 4;000 (MSA) and we shot the ILS 4 and landed subsequently. The event took place because after vectoring us we were cleared for a visual approach in a high terrain airport of which we got GPWS warning; which we had to respond to. The respond caused us to be way up to execute a stable approach; which I decided to cancel my visual approach and proceed with ILS approach. I talked to another captain landing after us; and he told me their airline has a special procedure notice outlining the possibility of getting GPWS coming from that direction (southwest) on visual approach. Having said that; next time I know that not to accept visual approach from that direction after vectoring us; because of the chance of getting GPWS warning; and subsequent break off from approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: While descending for a visual approach to AVP Runway 4 the flight crew of an air carrier jet received an EGPWS Terrain warning and initiated a go around. A subsequent ILS to the same runway was uneventful.

Narrative: On ATC vector for base; Approach cleared us for visual Runway 4 at AVP about 5 to 6 mile out at 4;000 FT (which is MSA for that airport. starting our descending turn toward Runway 4 we got GPWS terrain warning pull up; so we executed a climb; which put us too high for approach into AVP; as a result; I cancel my visual clearance; and this time I asked for an ILS approach into Runway 4; at this time my altitude was 2;500 and climbing; when we handed down to Approach Control; he gave us low altitude warning and ask if we have the terrain in sight; and we told them we do have all terrain in sight and he climbed us to 4;000 (MSA) and we shot the ILS 4 and landed subsequently. The event took place because after vectoring us we were cleared for a visual approach in a high terrain airport of which we got GPWS warning; which we had to respond to. The respond caused us to be way up to execute a stable approach; which I decided to cancel my visual approach and proceed with ILS approach. I talked to another Captain landing after us; and he told me their airline has a special procedure Notice outlining the possibility of getting GPWS coming from that direction (southwest) on visual approach. Having said that; next time I know that not to accept visual approach from that direction after vectoring us; because of the chance of getting GPWS warning; and subsequent break off from Approach.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	959195
Time
Date	201107
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	AVP.TRACON
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

While descending for a visual approach to avp runway 4 the flight crew of an air carrier jet received an egpws terrain warning and initiated a go around. A subsequent ILS to the same runway was uneventful.