Narrative:

On a visual approach to tys runway 5R, we received a GPWS warning about 7 mi west of airport on a long left base to runway 5R. We were cleared to 2500 ft from ATC, then cleared for visual approach. At 2700 ft we received warning and went around. If you look at tys NDB runway 5R approach, the transition altitude from swaso to benfi is 3000 ft. Maybe 2500 ft is a bit too low for MVA if indeed it is the MVA. It was our last assigned altitude prior to receiving clearance for visual. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: a call to the tys ATCT showed that the MVA east of swaso varies from 3000 ft at swaso to 2500 ft east of the river.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR DC9-30 CAPT RPTS THAT HE GOT A GPWS WARNING WHILE DSNDING INTO TYS. NIGHT OP. VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: ON A VISUAL APCH TO TYS RWY 5R, WE RECEIVED A GPWS WARNING ABOUT 7 MI W OF ARPT ON A LONG L BASE TO RWY 5R. WE WERE CLRED TO 2500 FT FROM ATC, THEN CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH. AT 2700 FT WE RECEIVED WARNING AND WENT AROUND. IF YOU LOOK AT TYS NDB RWY 5R APCH, THE TRANSITION ALT FROM SWASO TO BENFI IS 3000 FT. MAYBE 2500 FT IS A BIT TOO LOW FOR MVA IF INDEED IT IS THE MVA. IT WAS OUR LAST ASSIGNED ALT PRIOR TO RECEIVING CLRNC FOR VISUAL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: A CALL TO THE TYS ATCT SHOWED THAT THE MVA E OF SWASO VARIES FROM 3000 FT AT SWASO TO 2500 FT E OF THE RIVER.

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.