A320 being vectored to land south at iad gets terrain warning while at 3000 ft MSL.

Attributes
ACN	696276
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pct.tracon
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 3800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	696276
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : gpws
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Received GPWS warning 'terrain; terrain' while being vectored for runway 19L. Executed escape maneuver. Advised ATC; and subsequently returned to 3000 ft for vectors to runway 19L. Made normal landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 BEING VECTORED TO LAND S AT IAD GETS TERRAIN WARNING WHILE AT 3000 FT MSL.

Narrative: RECEIVED GPWS WARNING 'TERRAIN; TERRAIN' WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR RWY 19L. EXECUTED ESCAPE MANEUVER. ADVISED ATC; AND SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED TO 3000 FT FOR VECTORS TO RWY 19L. MADE NORMAL LNDG.

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.