Narrative:

First officer's leg. We talked about the hazards of the terrain; had the GPWS set on 20 mi; had 5 mi runway extension set in the box and briefed we could get recommended altitudes. We also had the localizer for runway 26 set in order to get DME. First officer could not see the field because of crosscockpit and he became preoccupied with orientation of the field. Fully configured on left descending base with 25 KT tailwind; we received a 'terrain; terrain' warning. As soon as the power was applied and the nose passed level; the warning ceased. The first officer released back pressure and commenced descent. Again we received a 'terrain; terrain' warning. Again power was applied and as soon as the nose started up the warning stopped. Normal approach and landing after that. There must be some way to set up waypoints or use the GPWS to avoid this from happening in abq. Or even worse a contact with the ground. The GPWS was mostly green; with a little yellow; I looked out at the airport and the next thing I knew we received the warning and the GPWS was red. I was surprised by the suddenness. It was very dark and the mountains east of the field were invisible. Supplemental information from acn 684069: night approach into abq; winds 260 degrees at 25-30 KTS; so we were landing on runway 26.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A VMC NIGHT APCH FLT CREW RECEIVED SEVERAL GPWS 'TERRAIN; TERRAIN' WARNINGS DURING BASE TURN TO FINAL.

Narrative: FO'S LEG. WE TALKED ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF THE TERRAIN; HAD THE GPWS SET ON 20 MI; HAD 5 MI RWY EXTENSION SET IN THE BOX AND BRIEFED WE COULD GET RECOMMENDED ALTS. WE ALSO HAD THE LOC FOR RWY 26 SET IN ORDER TO GET DME. FO COULD NOT SEE THE FIELD BECAUSE OF CROSSCOCKPIT AND HE BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH ORIENTATION OF THE FIELD. FULLY CONFIGURED ON L DSNDING BASE WITH 25 KT TAILWIND; WE RECEIVED A 'TERRAIN; TERRAIN' WARNING. AS SOON AS THE PWR WAS APPLIED AND THE NOSE PASSED LEVEL; THE WARNING CEASED. THE FO RELEASED BACK PRESSURE AND COMMENCED DSCNT. AGAIN WE RECEIVED A 'TERRAIN; TERRAIN' WARNING. AGAIN PWR WAS APPLIED AND AS SOON AS THE NOSE STARTED UP THE WARNING STOPPED. NORMAL APCH AND LNDG AFTER THAT. THERE MUST BE SOME WAY TO SET UP WAYPOINTS OR USE THE GPWS TO AVOID THIS FROM HAPPENING IN ABQ. OR EVEN WORSE A CONTACT WITH THE GND. THE GPWS WAS MOSTLY GREEN; WITH A LITTLE YELLOW; I LOOKED OUT AT THE ARPT AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW WE RECEIVED THE WARNING AND THE GPWS WAS RED. I WAS SURPRISED BY THE SUDDENNESS. IT WAS VERY DARK AND THE MOUNTAINS E OF THE FIELD WERE INVISIBLE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 684069: NIGHT APCH INTO ABQ; WINDS 260 DEGS AT 25-30 KTS; SO WE WERE LNDG ON RWY 26.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.