Date: 201911
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: CAK.Airport, OH
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class E CAK
ATC / advisory: TRACON CAK
Aircraft component: GPWS
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Detector: Automation Aircraft Terrain Warning
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: While in the approach phase of flight; ATC gave us a descent to 3;000 feet. Crew started the descent with a 500-600 FPM and around 3;800 feet; crew received a GPWS TERRAIN alert followed with a PULL UP command. Crew arrested the descent; applied climb power and began to climb. Pilot Monitoring called ATC and advised of the GPWS warning and will level off at 5;000 feet. ATC acknowledge the climb and advised that 3;000 feet is a safe altitude for the sector we were in and not sure why we got the TERRAIN warning. In the approach chart the highest obstacles are 2;049 feet; and 3;100 feet is the MSA west of the ACO VOR. ATC instructed us to maintain 5;000 feet and to descend at pilot discretion to 3;000 feet and cleared us for the visual approach to Runway 19. Captain decided to start the descent to 3;500 feet when intercepted the localizer inbound to Runway 19. Once established on the localizer; captured the glideslope and landed. During the entire approach it was night VFR.


Second narrative: We were in the terminal environment descending into the CAK airspace. We were vectored into the left downwind Runway 19 and told by ATC to descend to 3;000 feet. In our descent; we get an aural 'terrain.' We looked at the map and saw a tower at about 2;000 feet. I slowed descent rate to 500 FPM and noted on my [Jeppesen] chart that we were about right over the Tower so I was comfortable to continue to descent at the 500 FPM. At about 3;800 feet; we get an aural warning; 'too low terrain; pull up' message. I [disconnected] the autopilot and took evasive action. We climbed to 5;300 feet; notified ATC; and leveled off at 5;000 feet. The Controller told us that we are safe at 3;000 feet however to again descend Pilot's Discretion to 3;000 feet. We again initiated a slow descent; 500 FPM; and never got a warning again.Prior to this event happening; we had gotten two to three aural sounds that sounded like the gear horn for a second at a time; spaced out over a minute. This had happened 3-5 mins before the evasive action was initiated. I've had this happen once before and believe it's the radio altimeter acting up. I have a suspicion that this could be linked to the EGPWS warning. There was a tower close to where we were; but it's at 2;000 feet (700 feet AGL). We were nowhere near that low (4;000 feet) and ATC was also a little baffled over the radio that we got a warning. I've looked online and don't see any obstacle or terrain; however at the end of the day; I immediately executed evasive action when I heard the aural warning. I did notice as soon as I started up the aural warning stopped immediately.


Synopsis: Air carrier flight crew reported an aural terrain warning while descending to CAK airport in an area where the Minimum Safe Altitude was lower than the aircraft's altitude.