Narrative:

We were on approach into avp (scranton; PA). Flight conditions were complete IMC and the airport was reporting 800 ft overcast ceilings. We were on a 040 degree heading on downwind for the ILS runway 22 northeast of the airport. The captain was PF and was sure to give a thorough approach brief. He was sure to point out the very tall antennas (2016 ft AGL) on the approach plate. We commented to each other that we didn't like being so low so far from the IAF (3800 ft MSL). While level at 4000 ft MSL approximately 5 mi northeast of the airport between cosby and dumor we received a GPWS 'terrain; terrain' call and flasher. The captain immediately disconnected the autoplt and began pitching up while advancing power. Before the engines even spooled up we received a 2ND GPWS call. This time it was 'terrain terrain; climb climb' and flasher. I reported the altitude deviation and reason immediately to ATC. The calls ceased and we leveled off at 5000 ft MSL. He tried to descend us to 4000 ft again but we refused until established on the final approach course. Once on the ground we spoke with the tower controller about the event. He advised us that 4000 ft was a normal downwind altitude for the ILS runway 22. I think this needs to be looked at because there is no reason to be at 4000 ft on a 10 mi downwind when the initial approach fix is at 3800 ft MSL.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 CREW RECEIVES GPWS WARNING ON APCH TO AVP AT 4000 FT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON APCH INTO AVP (SCRANTON; PA). FLT CONDITIONS WERE COMPLETE IMC AND THE ARPT WAS RPTING 800 FT OVCST CEILINGS. WE WERE ON A 040 DEG HDG ON DOWNWIND FOR THE ILS RWY 22 NE OF THE ARPT. THE CAPT WAS PF AND WAS SURE TO GIVE A THOROUGH APCH BRIEF. HE WAS SURE TO POINT OUT THE VERY TALL ANTENNAS (2016 FT AGL) ON THE APCH PLATE. WE COMMENTED TO EACH OTHER THAT WE DIDN'T LIKE BEING SO LOW SO FAR FROM THE IAF (3800 FT MSL). WHILE LEVEL AT 4000 FT MSL APPROX 5 MI NE OF THE ARPT BTWN COSBY AND DUMOR WE RECEIVED A GPWS 'TERRAIN; TERRAIN' CALL AND FLASHER. THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND BEGAN PITCHING UP WHILE ADVANCING PWR. BEFORE THE ENGS EVEN SPOOLED UP WE RECEIVED A 2ND GPWS CALL. THIS TIME IT WAS 'TERRAIN TERRAIN; CLB CLB' AND FLASHER. I RPTED THE ALTDEV AND REASON IMMEDIATELY TO ATC. THE CALLS CEASED AND WE LEVELED OFF AT 5000 FT MSL. HE TRIED TO DSND US TO 4000 FT AGAIN BUT WE REFUSED UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE FINAL APCH COURSE. ONCE ON THE GND WE SPOKE WITH THE TWR CTLR ABOUT THE EVENT. HE ADVISED US THAT 4000 FT WAS A NORMAL DOWNWIND ALT FOR THE ILS RWY 22. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AT 4000 FT ON A 10 MI DOWNWIND WHEN THE INITIAL APCH FIX IS AT 3800 FT MSL.

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.