Medium large transport air carrier flight had GPWS at 3000 MSL on instrument approach to abe.

Attributes
ACN	193580
Time
Date	199111
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abe
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach 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 : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	193580
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were arriving into abe. The captain had never been there before. We had been cleared to and were about to level off at 3000 ft MSL when the GPWS went off stating 'terrain'. The captain immediately climbed to 3700 ft MSL and the GPWS warning stopped. We asked the controller what the MVA was and he stated 2800 ft MSL. We then informed him that the GPWS went off and that was the reason for our deviation. The controller then said 'it happens all the time, no problem'! This problem can be eliminated by clearing aircraft to 3500 ft initially then lower as necessary. The warning was caused by a steeply rising ridge and approach should not have such a laissez faire procedure in their airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG ACR FLT HAD GPWS AT 3000 MSL ON INST APCH TO ABE.

Narrative: WE WERE ARRIVING INTO ABE. THE CAPT HAD NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE. WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO AND WERE ABOUT TO LEVEL OFF AT 3000 FT MSL WHEN THE GPWS WENT OFF STATING 'TERRAIN'. THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 3700 FT MSL AND THE GPWS WARNING STOPPED. WE ASKED THE CTLR WHAT THE MVA WAS AND HE STATED 2800 FT MSL. WE THEN INFORMED HIM THAT THE GPWS WENT OFF AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR OUR DEV. THE CTLR THEN SAID 'IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, NO PROBLEM'! THIS PROBLEM CAN BE ELIMINATED BY CLRING ACFT TO 3500 FT INITIALLY THEN LOWER AS NECESSARY. THE WARNING WAS CAUSED BY A STEEPLY RISING RIDGE AND APCH SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A LAISSEZ FAIRE PROC IN THEIR AIRSPACE.

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.