B727 crew had GPWS terrain warning while on the ILS for runway 1 at alb.

Attributes
ACN	466309
Time
Date	200003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : alb.ils
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Snow
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : alb.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-100
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 : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	466309
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : ground less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Facility
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on radar vectors for ILS to runway 1 at albany, ny, and level at 2500 ft MSL, we experienced a GPWS warning 'terrain, terrain, whoop, whoop, pull up.' the captain (PF) immediately executed the GPWS escape maneuver and leveled off at 4000 ft MSL. We notified approach of our situation and that we were climbing. After leveling at 4000 ft MSL we asked for and received clearance back to 2500 ft MSL and completed the ILS approach to runway 1 at alb. The WX was right at minimums with blowing snow. I believe the MVA (2500 ft MSL) for that quadrant is too low. This provides too little margin for error or poor system tolerance. It should also be noted that when ATC was notified of our situation they immediately went to 'cya' mode and informed us 2500 ft MSL was a legal vectoring altitude. They were more concerned with telling us this and that we must have had a sink rate that caused the warning, than they were with getting any information on what happened, or getting us back on track for an approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW HAD GPWS TERRAIN WARNING WHILE ON THE ILS FOR RWY 1 AT ALB.

Narrative: WHILE ON RADAR VECTORS FOR ILS TO RWY 1 AT ALBANY, NY, AND LEVEL AT 2500 FT MSL, WE EXPERIENCED A GPWS WARNING 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN, WHOOP, WHOOP, PULL UP.' THE CAPT (PF) IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED THE GPWS ESCAPE MANEUVER AND LEVELED OFF AT 4000 FT MSL. WE NOTIFIED APCH OF OUR SIT AND THAT WE WERE CLBING. AFTER LEVELING AT 4000 FT MSL WE ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED CLRNC BACK TO 2500 FT MSL AND COMPLETED THE ILS APCH TO RWY 1 AT ALB. THE WX WAS RIGHT AT MINIMUMS WITH BLOWING SNOW. I BELIEVE THE MVA (2500 FT MSL) FOR THAT QUADRANT IS TOO LOW. THIS PROVIDES TOO LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERROR OR POOR SYS TOLERANCE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT WHEN ATC WAS NOTIFIED OF OUR SIT THEY IMMEDIATELY WENT TO 'CYA' MODE AND INFORMED US 2500 FT MSL WAS A LEGAL VECTORING ALT. THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED WITH TELLING US THIS AND THAT WE MUST HAVE HAD A SINK RATE THAT CAUSED THE WARNING, THAN THEY WERE WITH GETTING ANY INFO ON WHAT HAPPENED, OR GETTING US BACK ON TRACK FOR AN APCH.

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.