SF 340B
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 4100; Flight Crew Type 1600
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Human Factors
While departing from MGW; we were cleared for takeoff; on course; and maintain 3;000 FT. As we taxied onto the runway; the First Officer and I looked at each other with a question on our faces as he read back the takeoff instructions and reached up to the altitude preselector and dialed it from 8;000 down to 3;000 FT. Morgantown Tower did not correct him; so we performed a normal takeoff with a left turn on course and a climb up to 3;000 FT. After the switch over to the Departure frequency; and while leveling off at 3;000 FT; the GPWS activated with a 'terrain' warning. The First Officer immediately checked in and requested higher. The Controller responded with 'climb and maintain 8;000 FT.' After I initiated the climb; there were no subsequent GPWS hits and the flight continued uneventfully.
Flight crew departing MGW in VMC reports being instructed to climb on course and maintain 3;000 FT. Leveling at 3;000 FT a terrain warning is annunciated and the First Officer quickly requests a higher altitude and is cleared to 8;000 FT.