Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Terrain warning into ROA Runway 24; visual conditions and cleared for the visual. Was at 5;200 feet and cleared for the visual into 24 coming up from the south. Started descending to be in the valley aiming at HIBAN and to be there roughly 3;700 feet. As I was descending we came across a ridge line to the south. The combined descent coupled with the rapid increase of terrain below us of the ridge line set off a terrain warning. I took off the autopilot; increased power and climbed as required; then recognizing no danger and that the ridge line had passed; re-established the descent to intercept the approach near HIBAN. Rapid terrain rise of the ridge line coupled with my descent into the valley beyond the ridge. Disconnected autopilot; added power; climbed the aircraft. Suggest waiting until over past the ridge line to start descent or to ask for vectors onto the RNAV 24 even during visual conditions.
Air carrier Captain reported receiving a GPWS terrain warning on a visual approach to ROA.