Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Flying westbound from JWARD intersection; east of mountains just to the west of SNA; descending into SNA on the DSNEE4 arrival; cleared for the visual Runway 20R at SNA; FO (Flight Officer) flying pilot. Got terrain terrain; pull up; pull up at 5800 ft. MSL. Complied with warning; then normal approach and landing into SNA.Cause: Neither pilot thought we were low. Had mountains in sight. FO's first time into SNA; first time on DSNEE4 arrival contributed to lack of awareness. Captain briefed prior that SOCAL approach will keep airplane high on profile making it difficult to descend into SNA on a normal profile. This brief probably contributed to FO wanting to descend early. Captain had mountains in sight and thought clearance was going to be OK. Suggestions: Don't clear airplanes for visual into SNA when airplane is still east of 5600 ft. mountains east of SNA. Also make chart say keep 7600 ft. until west of mountains.
A320-200 Captain reported GPWS terrain warning activation on descent into destination in mountainous environment.