Date: 201304
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: AVP.TRACON, PA
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach; Descent
Airspace: Class D AVP
ATC / advisory: TRACON AVP
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Distraction; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Detector: Automation Aircraft Terrain Warning; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: On right downwind for Runway 22 at AVP we were at 4;000 FT. Since the visibility was excellent; we were expecting the visual and let approach control know we had the runway in sight. We were Flaps 9 at about 200 KTS. When nearly abeam the IAF for the 22 ILS; we were cleared for the visual. I was flying on autopilot; and turned the airplane toward the IAF. I selected 2;800 FT in the altitude selector and started down at about 1;000 FPM (to the best of my memory; a descent rate I normally begin with in this regime of flight). We were at about 3-4 miles from the IAF when I started us down. We knew about the ridge we were flying over; briefed the MSA (4;000 FT); and discussed that we'll probably get cleared for the approach after the very obvious antennae farm on the ridge. I even mentioned that '...if you're not careful around here I bet you could get at GPWS over this ridge.' Once established on the descent; the airplane announced at us 'Terrain; Terrain Whoop; Whoop Pull Up Landing Gear' all at the same time. By instinct; I quick disconnected and started pitching up and adding power. As soon as all this happened; the warnings went away; the ridge was behind us; and we continued with a normal landing. We both noticed the RA and I remember seeing greater than 1;400 AGL when the warning sounded. I think there was a descent awareness of the ridge we were paralleling on downwind; and the error made was possibly descending too steeply until getting over the ridge. No where on any charts are there any warnings other than the MSA circle; and depicted antennae. The Controller cleared us for the visual in a manner that seemed to give the impression that he was aware of the ridge; too; and the timing of the clearance seemed very appropriate for the terrain. Since we could see the outline of the terrain on the ground; and no continued warnings; we decided to make a normal landing. If we were IMC; there's no doubt that I would have busted out of that area in a climb like no other. I would have thought that we lost our SA and we were some place we shouldn't be. Neither one of us had terrain up on the MFD; and I'm not sure this would have changed the flight path. I've been here before; and never thought the terrain to be a big threat; but a threat to be aware of regardless. I'm sure I'll be using terrain mapping more.




Synopsis: An air carrier crew briefed an AVP Runway 22 night visual approach including terrain and antenna awareness but executed the escape maneuver following a brief EGPWS warning while above 2;800 FT MSL; then continued the visual.