MD80 executes climb maneuver after receiving false GPWS terrain alert at ord.

Attributes
ACN	417440
Time
Date	199810
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7700
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	417440
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	417441
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Captain's leg, autoplt engaged, level 7000 ft, IMC conditions. On downwind leg during approach to runway 14R, GPWS alert sounded indicating 'terrain, terrain.' captain disconnected autoplt and autothrottles, commenced a climb, and told first officer to inform approach we were climbing. Alert ceased at about 7700 ft and we leveled at 8000 ft. Descent for approach was commenced shortly thereafter, and the remainder of the flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 EXECUTES CLB MANEUVER AFTER RECEIVING FALSE GPWS TERRAIN ALERT AT ORD.

Narrative: CAPT'S LEG, AUTOPLT ENGAGED, LEVEL 7000 FT, IMC CONDITIONS. ON DOWNWIND LEG DURING APCH TO RWY 14R, GPWS ALERT SOUNDED INDICATING 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN.' CAPT DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT AND AUTOTHROTTLES, COMMENCED A CLB, AND TOLD FO TO INFORM APCH WE WERE CLBING. ALERT CEASED AT ABOUT 7700 FT AND WE LEVELED AT 8000 FT. DSCNT FOR APCH WAS COMMENCED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.