Air carrier flight crew reported low altitude alert while on approach in mountainous terrain.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported low altitude alert while on approach in mountainous terrain.
Narrative
Potential for Terrain avoidance procedure.ATC cleared us to descend to 16;000 and direct ZZZZZ on the RNAV XX. Then cleared us for the approach. During this time we were IMC. As I was in the approach phase I instinctively checked the MSA on the approach chart. We put in the next constraint and descended. We leveled off at 14;800 for the constraint on the approach. The approach plate gave a MSA of 14;400 so this seemed appropriate. At this altitude the airplane made a 2500" call and I looked down and saw we started to receive Radio Altitude information. The Radio altitude information quickly went away and we passed another peak that gave us another "2500" call. The altitude fluctuated too quickly for me to note an accurate altitude but saw it went below 2000' and entered the 1000'-2000' range. After we passed both peaks we exited IMC and could see there was no more terrain ahead. At this point ATC reported to us that MSA is 16;000 and asked if we were VMC. We reported back yes but we didn't have visual of the mountains we passed. We didn't receive any GPWS/EGPWS warnings. In hindsight we were outside of the Approach plate MSA distance. This is my first time to the airport. I checked the Mountain Flying Guide and Company Pages before and after departure. A mention of the threat of the potential of being cleared on the approach outside the approach MSA distance may mitigate this terrain threat in the future."
Second reporter narrative
Loss of awareness.We were on our descent down into the ZZZ airport. We were clear for the approach off of an airway. As the crew; we lost situational awareness as to where the minimum altitude was. We descended down to 14;800 to cross the initial approach fix on the RNAV XX approach into ZZZ. When we really should've been at 16;400 feet. we did get an alert from the radiometer calling out 2500 feet. We never got a terrain For a GPWS alert. Yes; I think we lost awareness of our surroundings while descending to the next crossing altitude on the fix.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.