CRJ-900 air carrier crew reported an unstabilized approach which resulted in a low altitude alert from ATC. The crew corrected the low altitude condition and then stabilized the aircraft below stabilization minimums.
Synopsis
CRJ-900 air carrier crew reported an unstabilized approach which resulted in a low altitude alert from ATC. The crew corrected the low altitude condition and then stabilized the aircraft below stabilization minimums.
Narrative
We were being vectored on approach to Runway XXR at ZZZ. We were backing up the visual approach with the GPS Y approach to Runway XXR. We were vectored in high when told we were cleared for visual approach. The Captain and I both realized we were high so she deployed the spoilers to help descend a little faster. We were stable and I thought that was a good decision. We didn't get accessive decent rate at that point. We were correcting in a timely manner and safely. I believe I was distracted running the landing checklist when we got low and the spoilers deployed caution message illuminated at the same time. I called the caution message to the Captain and she retracted the spoilers and at the same moment I noticed we were low and Tower called at same time stating they had a warning we were low. Captain immediately stated correcting and we were correcting. In hindsight I believe I should have called the go around because we were below the proper altitude for too long. I thought she was correcting fast enough and I felt like we were in a stable configuration. I missed the 1000 ft call because I was distracted by the caution message and trying to get us back stabilized. At 500 ft I realized we were stable so I called stable continue.Cause: We were being vectored on approach to Runway XXR at ZZZ. We were backing up the visual approach with the GPS Y approach to Runway XXR. We were vectored in high when told we were cleared for visual approach. The Captain and I both realized we were high so she deployed the spoilers to help descend a little faster. We were stable and I thought that was a good decision. We didn't get excessive decent rate at that point. We were correcting in a timely manner and safely. I believe I was distracted running the landing checklist when we got low and the spoilers deployed caution message illuminated at the same time. I called the caution message to the Captain and she retracted the spoilers and at the same moment I noticed we were low and Tower called at same time stating they had a warning we were low. Captain immediately stated correcting and we were correcting. In hindsight I believe I should have called the go around because we were below the proper altitude for too long. I thought she was correcting fast enough and I felt like we were in a stable configuration. I missed the 1000 ft call because I was distracted by the caution message and trying to get us back stabilized. At 500 ft I realized we were stable so I called stable continue. I am stating expectation bias because I was over reliant thinking the captain was completely ahead of airplane and I may have not been monitoring her approach as closely as I should have; I am also stating high workload only because this happened as I was configuring airplane for landing and running landing checklist at the point she got low. Interruption/distraction because the caution message came on at the same time we got low.Suggestions: ATC could have turned us in for a visual a little later or given us a lower altitude if vectoring us in as close as they did
Second reporter narrative
Pilot flying (PF) -Captain; Pilot monitoring (PM) - First Officer (FO). Retracted spoilers late at 800 ft; got 4 red on descent but corrected onto glide path on the RNAV approach.Cause: Came in to intercept RNAV XXR. Approach cleared for the visual at a high altitude. Spoilers retracted to lose the airspeed and altitude fast. Retracted spoilers at 700ft past the 1;000 Atl mark. Suggestions: Next time flying into ZZZ slow down ahead of time to give more time for set up.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.