Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Distraction; Workload; Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
We were left very high coming into TYS and cleared for the visual to 23L; we asked if it would be alright if we fly through the LOC course in order to lose a bit more altitude. ATC then turned us right to a heading of 050 and down to 2;700. They told us to expect the localizer approach. We then corrected them and told them we still wanted the visual but needed a bit more room to lose altitude. They recleared us for the visual; at this point we were downwind. I began to turn base and leveled at 2;800 ft. We were between the final approach fix and the intermediate fix and would intercept just outside of the FAF. We then got a terrain warning. We were well clear of all obstacles. We then got the terrain pull up and climbed up about 400 ft until the warning stopped. We landed uneventfully. I am still unsure if this warning was an actual event of a false warning since the controller gave us 2;700 for vectors to the LOC. Either way; I should have stayed higher once being cleared for the visual. We were left high and fast coming in to TYS and instead of slowing down then descending; I descended then slowed. I should have done it the opposite way. My experience level contributed to the event.
On base leg to TYS we experienced an EGPWS warning that warranted the escape manuever. After complying with escape manuever we were able to re stabilize and continue the approach. This event happened about 10 miles east of the airport. It was visual and no hazardous terrain and towers were noted. It only required 200 ft. increase in altitude to cancel warning. I believe it may have been a false indication.
Air carrier flight crew reported an EGPWS 'TERRAIN; PULL UP' warning while flying a left descending base for a visual approach to TYS Runway 23L.