B737-800 flight crew reported on departure the pilot flying turned early resulting in receiving a low altitude alert and aircraft flying towards terrain. ATC issued an expedited climb and the flight crew resumed the departure.
Synopsis
B737-800 flight crew reported on departure the pilot flying turned early resulting in receiving a low altitude alert and aircraft flying towards terrain. ATC issued an expedited climb and the flight crew resumed the departure.
Narrative
I was the Pilot Monitoring as the Captain on Flight XXX from ZZZ-ZZZ1. First Officer (FO) was Pilot Flying. He is relatively inexperienced FO being on the line only one month. During the departure he wasn't following the flight director guidance and turned earlier than supposed to. He turned prior to the designated way point of ZZZZZ on the ZZZZZ1 departure off of ZZZ XXR. I was late catching it due to being heads down reconfiguring the aircraft; ensuring we didn't overspeed anything and communicating with departure; while being in the weather. By the time I caught the error I thought it best to continue our current heading; as it was correcting us back to planned course versus turning back to the ZZZZZ that we were about a mile inside of.I was more concerned about avoiding causing any possible spatial disorientation while in the weather. Our course deviation apparently triggered a low altitude alert with Departure; which they queried us about and asked if we had turned early. I replied that we had; and they proceeded to direct us to expedite climb through 4;000 ft. to our assigned 5;000 ft. By this time; we had broken out of the weather and could see we were in no threat of any terrain. We expedited the climb as directed and then complied with follow on radar vectors and climb instructions. Departure eventually handed us off to Center and remainder of flight went as planned.We as the flight crew should have better followed and flown the departure as depicted ensuring to fly the correct ground track.
Second reporter narrative
I was Pilot Flying (PF). While on the ZZZZZ1 out of ZZZ on Runway XXR I made my turn early to the ZZZZZ1 fix. This was a deviation from the STAR. We briefed this departure and with LNAV/VNAV being armed. While hand flying; I failed to follow the flight director guidance which led to this error. Once I noticed that I made the turn too soon; I was trying to correct to get on course; but ATC had advised me of this possible Pilot Deviation.Follow the flight director and be situationally aware of where I'm at prior to commencing any directions.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.