Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
While on descent to land into SYR. We were cleared for the visual approach into runway 28. I selected the altitude of 1600 feet in the altitude selector for the altitude at ZIMBI on the approach. Not being familiar with the terrain around the SYR area; and failing to notice on the approach plate the MSA for that area is at 2800 feet to 3700 feet. Descending at a normal rate and not knowing about the rise in terrain located to the southeast of the airport. The landing gear warning went off. At that point; I stopped the descent; and asked for the landing gear to be lowered to silence the warning. Noticing that we were moving away from the area of rising terrain; that we were alright and continued on with the approach and landing.I suggest reviewing the glide slope intercept altitude and the MSA for the area.
An air carrier pilot cleared for a night visual to SYR Runway 28 descended to 1;600 feet on approach from the south. The EPWS alerted LANDING GEAR as the aircraft approached the high terrain so the landing gear was lowered and the descent stopped. The pilot failed to check the charted MSA for that area.