Narrative:

Deviation from assigned altitude. We were cleared to 4000' to intercept the san runway 27 localizer and cleared approach. At approximately 14.6 DME approaching the localizer from the northeast and descending though 4400' in night IMC conditions, we received a continuous GPWS 'pull up...terrain' warning. I immediately began a 20 degree climb and maintained the climb until the GPWS stopped. We leveled at 5500', intercepted the localizer, broke out of the clouds and saw the runway all at approximately 13.2 DME. At that time we continued the approach and landed at lindbergh field west/O further incident. The next morning I called the san diego approach controller supervisor on duty. We determined that the GPWS warning was most likely activated by high terrain associated with mt san miguel which is depicted on the approach plate at a 2791' obstacle. Supervisor stated that he knew of at least two other recent GPWS warnings involving air carriers on approach into lindbergh field. I would recommend that approach controllers make every effort to vector aircraft around rather than over the 2791' san miguel obstacle.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG DESCENDING TO ASSIGNED LEVEL OF 4000' MSL ON VECTOR TO INTERCEPT 27 LOC AT SAN RECEIVED GPWS WARNING. PULLED UP TO 5200' UNTIL WARNING CEASED.

Narrative: DEV FROM ASSIGNED ALT. WE WERE CLRED TO 4000' TO INTERCEPT THE SAN RWY 27 LOC AND CLRED APCH. AT APPROX 14.6 DME APCHING THE LOC FROM THE NE AND DSNDING THOUGH 4400' IN NIGHT IMC CONDITIONS, WE RECEIVED A CONTINUOUS GPWS 'PULL UP...TERRAIN' WARNING. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A 20 DEG CLB AND MAINTAINED THE CLB UNTIL THE GPWS STOPPED. WE LEVELED AT 5500', INTERCEPTED THE LOC, BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND SAW THE RWY ALL AT APPROX 13.2 DME. AT THAT TIME WE CONTINUED THE APCH AND LANDED AT LINDBERGH FIELD W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED THE SAN DIEGO APCH CTLR SUPVR ON DUTY. WE DETERMINED THAT THE GPWS WARNING WAS MOST LIKELY ACTIVATED BY HIGH TERRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH MT SAN MIGUEL WHICH IS DEPICTED ON THE APCH PLATE AT A 2791' OBSTACLE. SUPVR STATED THAT HE KNEW OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER RECENT GPWS WARNINGS INVOLVING AIR CARRIERS ON APCH INTO LINDBERGH FIELD. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT APCH CTLRS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO VECTOR ACFT AROUND RATHER THAN OVER THE 2791' SAN MIGUEL OBSTACLE.

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.