Air carrier flight crew reported receiving a terrain warning while on approach at night.

Attributes
ACN	1618421
Time
Date	201902
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	AVL.Airport
State Reference	NC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument
Events
Anomaly	Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

We were on a left downwind for runway 17 at 6;000 feet. We accepted a visual approach. I set 4;000 feet; informed my first officer (first officer) of the terrain and where I was planning to intercept the course. We had the runway (and terrain) in sight. I was going to fly past in mountains; turn for a base and start my descent. Unfortunately; due to fatigue; I started my descent too soon. We received a terrain warning before turning for base. Still having the terrain in sight; we immediately corrected with pitch and power and climbed back up to 6;000 feet. From 6;000 feet we started the approach again without incident. I have flown into avl many times. My decision to start the descent at that moment makes little since to me. I was not in a rush to get the airplane on the ground; I simply started the descent too soon. We spent 40 minutes [at our departure airport taxiing to the runway]. By the time we took of I was starting the feel the effects of fatigue. All I had to do to avoid this error was to extend my downwind a little longer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier flight crew reported receiving a terrain warning while on approach at night.

Narrative: We were on a left downwind for runway 17 at 6;000 feet. We accepted a visual approach. I set 4;000 feet; informed my FO (First Officer) of the terrain and where I was planning to intercept the course. We had the runway (and terrain) in sight. I was going to fly past in mountains; turn for a base and start my descent. Unfortunately; due to fatigue; I started my descent too soon. We received a terrain warning before turning for base. Still having the terrain in sight; we immediately corrected with pitch and power and climbed back up to 6;000 feet. From 6;000 feet we started the approach again without incident. I have flown into AVL many times. My decision to start the descent at that moment makes little since to me. I was not in a rush to get the airplane on the ground; I simply started the descent too soon. We spent 40 minutes [at our departure airport taxiing to the runway]. By the time we took of I was starting the feel the effects of fatigue. All I had to do to avoid this error was to extend my downwind a little longer.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.