Narrative:

While level at 5000' MSL with the correct altimeter setting in place and on a downwind vector heading of 260 degrees for the roa lda runway 6 approach, the GPWS pull up warning sounded. Virtually instantly (before the second pull up sounded) I started an emergency climb. I leveled off at 6500' approximately 20 seconds later and my first officer advised the approach controller we had made the altitude change in response to the GPWS warning. I had been to roa only once before and due to night, WX conditions, I felt the warning could possibly be real. The controller's response was a nonchalant comment that some other aircraft had had the warning in the area of a 4009' hill where we got our warning. I don't now what can be done about this (perhaps a higher vector altitude until passing this area), but I certainly see the conflict between what I did (and teach as a check captain) climbing blindly into altitudes which may contain other aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW RESPONDED TO GPWS ON DOWNWIND VECTOR FOR LDA RWY 6 APCH AT ROA.

Narrative: WHILE LEVEL AT 5000' MSL WITH THE CORRECT ALTIMETER SETTING IN PLACE AND ON A DOWNWIND VECTOR HDG OF 260 DEGS FOR THE ROA LDA RWY 6 APCH, THE GPWS PULL UP WARNING SOUNDED. VIRTUALLY INSTANTLY (BEFORE THE SECOND PULL UP SOUNDED) I STARTED AN EMER CLB. I LEVELED OFF AT 6500' APPROX 20 SECS LATER AND MY F/O ADVISED THE APCH CTLR WE HAD MADE THE ALT CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO THE GPWS WARNING. I HAD BEEN TO ROA ONLY ONCE BEFORE AND DUE TO NIGHT, WX CONDITIONS, I FELT THE WARNING COULD POSSIBLY BE REAL. THE CTLR'S RESPONSE WAS A NONCHALANT COMMENT THAT SOME OTHER ACFT HAD HAD THE WARNING IN THE AREA OF A 4009' HILL WHERE WE GOT OUR WARNING. I DON'T NOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS (PERHAPS A HIGHER VECTOR ALT UNTIL PASSING THIS AREA), BUT I CERTAINLY SEE THE CONFLICT BTWN WHAT I DID (AND TEACH AS A CHK CAPT) CLBING BLINDLY INTO ALTS WHICH MAY CONTAIN OTHER ACFT.

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.