Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Fatigue; Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
We were on a left downwind for runway 17 at 6;000 feet. We accepted a visual approach. I set 4;000 feet; informed my FO (First Officer) of the terrain and where I was planning to intercept the course. We had the runway (and terrain) in sight. I was going to fly past in mountains; turn for a base and start my descent. Unfortunately; due to fatigue; I started my descent too soon. We received a terrain warning before turning for base. Still having the terrain in sight; we immediately corrected with pitch and power and climbed back up to 6;000 feet. From 6;000 feet we started the approach again without incident. I have flown into AVL many times. My decision to start the descent at that moment makes little since to me. I was not in a rush to get the airplane on the ground; I simply started the descent too soon. We spent 40 minutes [at our departure airport taxiing to the runway]. By the time we took of I was starting the feel the effects of fatigue. All I had to do to avoid this error was to extend my downwind a little longer.
Yesterday we had a few delays; we finished our last flight [hours after midnight.] The hotel had no transportation that late and we needed to wait for a cab leaving us with a minimum rest overnight after a long day. Today on the last flight of the day [at night] after one deadhead and two other legs on the approach to AVL we were in VMC conditions Captain as PF (Pilot Flying) and I was PM (Pilot Monitoring.) We briefed the approach and used RNAV 17 as a backup for the visual 17. While descending to 4000 with the airport in sight before crossing STOSS we got a terrain warning. Captain disconnected the Autopilot and climbed and I advised ATC. We climbed still in VMC and with the airport in sight. After clear of terrain; we descended and landed on runway 17. We should have request the approach from ONZIQ and taken our time.
Air Carrier flight crew reported receiving a terrain warning while on approach at night.