Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Airport; Airspace Structure
While performing the circle to Runway 33 in ASE. The pilot flying disconnected the autopilot and the beginning altitude of 9;200 feet for the circle 33 was set. Hand flying decent rate triggered the EGWS warning. We initiated full power and go around pitch attitude; but we were already past the mountain that triggered the EGPWS. We were still well within a safe distance from airport to continue the visual circle maneuver. This was during day VMC conditions with a light wind out of the north.We should have continued the LOC 15 approach even after we went visual. This would have most likely prevented the aircraft EGWS warning from going off.
In the visual decent into ASE for the circle to 33 Approach; I received a GPWS pull up. After applying go around power and clear of GPWS conflict I initiated the visual decent to set up for the circle 33 approach.
The flight crew of a regional airline; performing a visual approach to a mountainous airport; reported receiving a terrain warning while circling to land. The pilot flying executed an escape maneuver; and after determining that the terrain was no longer a factor; completed the approach and landed uneventfully.