CRJ200 crew had an egpws alert on a visual approach at night into elm.

Attributes
ACN	688056
Time
Date	200602
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : elm.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : elm.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 7600 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	688056
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During a visual approach to runway 6 at elm; we received an egpws terrain caution. The first officer; who was on the controls; leveled off. At that point the egpws caution stopped. We continued the approach and landed without incident. When we arrived in the terminal area; we were high for initiating the approach. After being cleared for a visual to runway 6; we contacted the tower and advised them that we would be overshooting the approach course; and then return to the approach course to land. As we returned to the final approach course and were configuring for landing; the egpws caution occurred. We were VMC and appeared to be well clear of any terrain. However; we were apparently closer than we thought. In the future; I will make sure that we are more situationally aware of the terrain and use only the ILS (or other instrument approach) at night at 'special' airports; even if it is VMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ200 CREW HAD AN EGPWS ALERT ON A VISUAL APCH AT NIGHT INTO ELM.

Narrative: DURING A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 6 AT ELM; WE RECEIVED AN EGPWS TERRAIN CAUTION. THE FO; WHO WAS ON THE CTLS; LEVELED OFF. AT THAT POINT THE EGPWS CAUTION STOPPED. WE CONTINUED THE APCH AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN WE ARRIVED IN THE TERMINAL AREA; WE WERE HIGH FOR INITIATING THE APCH. AFTER BEING CLRED FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 6; WE CONTACTED THE TWR AND ADVISED THEM THAT WE WOULD BE OVERSHOOTING THE APCH COURSE; AND THEN RETURN TO THE APCH COURSE TO LAND. AS WE RETURNED TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE AND WERE CONFIGURING FOR LNDG; THE EGPWS CAUTION OCCURRED. WE WERE VMC AND APPEARED TO BE WELL CLR OF ANY TERRAIN. HOWEVER; WE WERE APPARENTLY CLOSER THAN WE THOUGHT. IN THE FUTURE; I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MORE SITUATIONALLY AWARE OF THE TERRAIN AND USE ONLY THE ILS (OR OTHER INST APCH) AT NIGHT AT 'SPECIAL' ARPTS; EVEN IF IT IS VMC.

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.