A B737 crew descended below 5;000 ft prior to calls intersection on a tus runway 11L night visual ap...

Attributes
ACN	1010490
Time
Date	201205
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	U90.TRACON
State Reference	AZ
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 320
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

We were cleared to calls on a visual to [tus runway] 11L. The first officer selected 5000' as depicted on the approach chart. Initially; it appeared to be an appropriate setting because of our higher altitude and descent rate. The first officer increased descent rate and reached 5000' outside the DME depicted for calls. I determined that terrain was about to be a factor and directed the first officer to climb. As the climb was initiated; we received a momentary 'caution terrain' and small yellow depiction on the display. At the same time; approach advised that minimum vector altitude was 5500'. We re-established altitude in compliance with the 11L ILS approach chart and completed the visual approach with ILS guidance. Ensure that both pilots have the appropriate approach chart in front of them and verbalize the clearance limit altitudes on the chart during a visual approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 crew descended below 5;000 FT prior to CALLS intersection on a TUS Runway 11L night visual approach and received a momentary 'Caution Terrain' alert while climbing.

Narrative: We were cleared to CALLS on a visual to [TUS Runway] 11L. The First Officer selected 5000' as depicted on the approach chart. Initially; it appeared to be an appropriate setting because of our higher altitude and descent rate. The First Officer increased descent rate and reached 5000' outside the DME depicted for CALLS. I determined that terrain was about to be a factor and directed the First Officer to climb. As the climb was initiated; we received a momentary 'Caution Terrain' and small yellow depiction on the display. At the same time; Approach advised that minimum vector altitude was 5500'. We re-established altitude in compliance with the 11L ILS approach chart and completed the visual approach with ILS guidance. Ensure that both Pilots have the appropriate approach chart in front of them and verbalize the clearance limit altitudes on the chart during a visual approach.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A B737 crew descended below 5;000 ft prior to calls intersection on a tus runway 11L night visual approach and received a momentary 'caution terrain' alert while climbing.