False GPWS warning.

Attributes
ACN	290500
Time
Date	199412
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5400 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax tower : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	290500
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	290499
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

While on lynx 8 arrival to ILS 8 burbank, we were given descent from 6000 ft to 5000 ft. As we descended through approximately 5.4 we received a 'terrain, terrain, pull up' command. A climb was initiated and the aural warning ceased at approximately 6000 ft. We notified burbank approach of our climb and intentions. Approach was surprised at our call, and were reclred descent to 5000 ft and for the approach. Factors affecting our decision were our unfamiliarity with the terrain, and night conditions did not allow a positive identify of the terrain. After landing we contacted approach to clear up any confusion they might have concerning our procedures. TRACON was not aware of any procedures to climb for a terrain pull up command.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FALSE GPWS WARNING.

Narrative: WHILE ON LYNX 8 ARR TO ILS 8 BURBANK, WE WERE GIVEN DSCNT FROM 6000 FT TO 5000 FT. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH APPROX 5.4 WE RECEIVED A 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN, PULL UP' COMMAND. A CLB WAS INITIATED AND THE AURAL WARNING CEASED AT APPROX 6000 FT. WE NOTIFIED BURBANK APCH OF OUR CLB AND INTENTIONS. APCH WAS SURPRISED AT OUR CALL, AND WERE RECLRED DSCNT TO 5000 FT AND FOR THE APCH. FACTORS AFFECTING OUR DECISION WERE OUR UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE TERRAIN, AND NIGHT CONDITIONS DID NOT ALLOW A POSITIVE IDENT OF THE TERRAIN. AFTER LNDG WE CONTACTED APCH TO CLR UP ANY CONFUSION THEY MIGHT HAVE CONCERNING OUR PROCS. TRACON WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROCS TO CLB FOR A TERRAIN PULL UP COMMAND.

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.