B737-500 crew on visual approach to oak, executed an egpws climb. The crew responded, and climbed to 4000 ft. The visual approach was executed on a very dark night.

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Attributes
ACN	596037
Time
Date	200310
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon tower : oak.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	596037
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared visual to runway 29 at oakland, 2000 ft MSL restr until 6 DME oak VOR. Started descent from 7000 ft. PF asked that 2000 ft be spun into altitude window. As we descended, dark terrain moved up in windscreen. 'Terrain system' was being used, and showed all green. Comments were made by both PF and PNF about how dark it was, very shortly thereafter, GPWS commanded a climb. Procedures utilized, and a rapid climb to 4000 ft MSL was accomplished. Confign and landing uneventful. Lesson learned for me as the first officer: do not ignore that nagging voice that is trying to tell you something. I knew we were very low, fairly far out, below the MSA. Even though the approach was a visual, it just didn't 'seem right.' I plan on being extra cautious at night in regards to approach altitudes and approach guidance. I also believe we were a victim of the 'black hole' phenomenon, and shall be extremely wary of that in the future. I am extremely glad the terrain system was operating, and plan on using it on every approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-500 CREW ON VISUAL APCH TO OAK, EXECUTED AN EGPWS CLB. THE CREW RESPONDED, AND CLBED TO 4000 FT. THE VISUAL APCH WAS EXECUTED ON A VERY DARK NIGHT.

Narrative: CLRED VISUAL TO RWY 29 AT OAKLAND, 2000 FT MSL RESTR UNTIL 6 DME OAK VOR. STARTED DSCNT FROM 7000 FT. PF ASKED THAT 2000 FT BE SPUN INTO ALT WINDOW. AS WE DSNDED, DARK TERRAIN MOVED UP IN WINDSCREEN. 'TERRAIN SYS' WAS BEING USED, AND SHOWED ALL GREEN. COMMENTS WERE MADE BY BOTH PF AND PNF ABOUT HOW DARK IT WAS, VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, GPWS COMMANDED A CLB. PROCS UTILIZED, AND A RAPID CLB TO 4000 FT MSL WAS ACCOMPLISHED. CONFIGN AND LNDG UNEVENTFUL. LESSON LEARNED FOR ME AS THE FO: DO NOT IGNORE THAT NAGGING VOICE THAT IS TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I KNEW WE WERE VERY LOW, FAIRLY FAR OUT, BELOW THE MSA. EVEN THOUGH THE APCH WAS A VISUAL, IT JUST DIDN'T 'SEEM RIGHT.' I PLAN ON BEING EXTRA CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT IN REGARDS TO APCH ALTS AND APCH GUIDANCE. I ALSO BELIEVE WE WERE A VICTIM OF THE 'BLACK HOLE' PHENOMENON, AND SHALL BE EXTREMELY WARY OF THAT IN THE FUTURE. I AM EXTREMELY GLAD THE TERRAIN SYS WAS OPERATING, AND PLAN ON USING IT ON EVERY 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.