B727 crew ignored a GPWS terrain warning while on vectors for the approach at night at rno.

Attributes
ACN	534721
Time
Date	200201
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rno.airport
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl single value : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rno.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : 34l
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 63 flight time total : 5945 flight time type : 1320
ASRS Report	534721
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on a radar vector to runway 34L localizer back course to rno, received GPWS pull-up command. Terrain was in sight, as well as was the airfield, so I elected to disregard GPWS and continue. Maintained 9000 ft, last assigned altitude, until GPWS alert ceased, and was in position to land. I felt at no time was safety compromised. However, upon reviewing company procedures after flight, an escape maneuver was called for, since it was night. I believe the GPWS was activated due to rapidly rising terrain within the 2500 ft zone, but the radio altimeter (which starts at 1500 ft) never moved. Based on this, the rest of the crew and I agreed we could continue safely. No write-ups were made since there was no escape maneuver and no engine parameters were exceeded. We continued to an uneventful landing. In retrospect, I should have initiated an escape maneuver and advised approach control. A simple 360 degree turn could have easily set me up for another approach with minimal delay.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW IGNORED A GPWS TERRAIN WARNING WHILE ON VECTORS FOR THE APCH AT NIGHT AT RNO.

Narrative: WHILE ON A RADAR VECTOR TO RWY 34L LOC BACK COURSE TO RNO, RECEIVED GPWS PULL-UP COMMAND. TERRAIN WAS IN SIGHT, AS WELL AS WAS THE AIRFIELD, SO I ELECTED TO DISREGARD GPWS AND CONTINUE. MAINTAINED 9000 FT, LAST ASSIGNED ALT, UNTIL GPWS ALERT CEASED, AND WAS IN POS TO LAND. I FELT AT NO TIME WAS SAFETY COMPROMISED. HOWEVER, UPON REVIEWING COMPANY PROCS AFTER FLT, AN ESCAPE MANEUVER WAS CALLED FOR, SINCE IT WAS NIGHT. I BELIEVE THE GPWS WAS ACTIVATED DUE TO RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN WITHIN THE 2500 FT ZONE, BUT THE RADIO ALTIMETER (WHICH STARTS AT 1500 FT) NEVER MOVED. BASED ON THIS, THE REST OF THE CREW AND I AGREED WE COULD CONTINUE SAFELY. NO WRITE-UPS WERE MADE SINCE THERE WAS NO ESCAPE MANEUVER AND NO ENG PARAMETERS WERE EXCEEDED. WE CONTINUED TO AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE INITIATED AN ESCAPE MANEUVER AND ADVISED APCH CTL. A SIMPLE 360 DEG TURN COULD HAVE EASILY SET ME UP FOR ANOTHER APCH WITH MINIMAL DELAY.

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.