MD80 crew had GPWS 'terrain' warning.

Attributes
ACN	436701
Time
Date	199904
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : psp.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : psp.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	436701
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Situations
ATC Facility	radar equipment : psp.tracon

Narrative:

GPWS event. On radar vectors for a visual approach for runway 31L at psp. In contact with psp approach control, above the cloud layer and cleared to descend to 7000 ft. On approximately heading of 250 degrees and descending through 7400 ft, we got a GPWS warning with 'terrain, terrain.' the GPWS procedure was complied with and we climbed straight ahead to 8000 ft and advised approach control of the situation. He advised that we were MVA for the area and stated that the same thing happened to another MD80 in the same location and to call him when on the ground. I could see the valley floor through the clouds to the left and we requested a vector heading of 180 degrees. We continued on vectors to a visual for runway 31L after clearance to descend to 4000 ft. I called the tower and they just wanted to know if our GPWS was any different than other airlines. They advised that none of the other airlines had experienced erroneous GPWS warnings in this area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD GPWS 'TERRAIN' WARNING.

Narrative: GPWS EVENT. ON RADAR VECTORS FOR A VISUAL APCH FOR RWY 31L AT PSP. IN CONTACT WITH PSP APCH CTL, ABOVE THE CLOUD LAYER AND CLRED TO DSND TO 7000 FT. ON APPROX HDG OF 250 DEGS AND DSNDING THROUGH 7400 FT, WE GOT A GPWS WARNING WITH 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN.' THE GPWS PROC WAS COMPLIED WITH AND WE CLBED STRAIGHT AHEAD TO 8000 FT AND ADVISED APCH CTL OF THE SIT. HE ADVISED THAT WE WERE MVA FOR THE AREA AND STATED THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER MD80 IN THE SAME LOCATION AND TO CALL HIM WHEN ON THE GND. I COULD SEE THE VALLEY FLOOR THROUGH THE CLOUDS TO THE L AND WE REQUESTED A VECTOR HDG OF 180 DEGS. WE CONTINUED ON VECTORS TO A VISUAL FOR RWY 31L AFTER CLRNC TO DSND TO 4000 FT. I CALLED THE TWR AND THEY JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF OUR GPWS WAS ANY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER AIRLINES. THEY ADVISED THAT NONE OF THE OTHER AIRLINES HAD EXPERIENCED ERRONEOUS GPWS WARNINGS IN THIS AREA.

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.