Warning from GPWS causes reporter to climb above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	136878
Time
Date	199002
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6000
ASRS Report	136878
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Being vectored for ILS 11 oak, G/south inoperative level at 3000' MSL, solid IMC, GPWS gave terrain warning and continued to repeat. Altimeter check showed all 3 altimeters at 3000'. Radio altimeter counted down rapidly and reached 1480' AGL before we initiated an immediate climb to 4000'. ATC was notified as we passed through 3500'. ATC responded that this was a fairly common occurrence in that area, with similar response by all crews during IMC operations. ATC also advised that we had sfo traffic at 12 O'clock and 2 miles descending through 4000' and that we should descend to 3000' west/O delay. Also stated that MVA in that area is 2700'. If this is a common occurrence in that area, maybe the MVA should be changed, or a warning given to crews by approach when being vectored through this area. The only prudent response when IMC and a continued terrain warning is sounded is to pull up. This could cause serious problems with other traffic in this area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WARNING FROM GPWS CAUSES REPORTER TO CLIMB ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: BEING VECTORED FOR ILS 11 OAK, G/S INOPERATIVE LEVEL AT 3000' MSL, SOLID IMC, GPWS GAVE TERRAIN WARNING AND CONTINUED TO REPEAT. ALTIMETER CHK SHOWED ALL 3 ALTIMETERS AT 3000'. RADIO ALTIMETER COUNTED DOWN RAPIDLY AND REACHED 1480' AGL BEFORE WE INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 4000'. ATC WAS NOTIFIED AS WE PASSED THROUGH 3500'. ATC RESPONDED THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THAT AREA, WITH SIMILAR RESPONSE BY ALL CREWS DURING IMC OPERATIONS. ATC ALSO ADVISED THAT WE HAD SFO TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 2 MILES DSNDING THROUGH 4000' AND THAT WE SHOULD DSND TO 3000' W/O DELAY. ALSO STATED THAT MVA IN THAT AREA IS 2700'. IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THAT AREA, MAYBE THE MVA SHOULD BE CHANGED, OR A WARNING GIVEN TO CREWS BY APCH WHEN BEING VECTORED THROUGH THIS AREA. THE ONLY PRUDENT RESPONSE WHEN IMC AND A CONTINUED TERRAIN WARNING IS SOUNDED IS TO PULL UP. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBS WITH OTHER TFC IN THIS AREA.

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.