Narrative:

After flying the ojaay arrival into dca; [we were given] radar vectors to the north of dca for the river visual 19; light winds and clear skies. We reported the potomac river in sight when asked by ATC. I was pilot flying and had acquired a visual on the potomac so that we could fly the ground track to the airport. I continued to gradually descend in vertical speed mode while configuring the aircraft and precisely flying the river; being careful not to overfly the prohibited areas. I leveled off at approximately 550 feet AGL while; visually; [we appeared to be] three to four NM from the airport. Foqa reported that we were five to six NM from airport [where] the river visual procedure recommends 1;800 feet. I easily had visual contact with all the structures on the banks of the river. GPWS alerted us with one 'too low; terrain' advisory. I initiated a gentle climb back up to 8 or 900 feet AGL and started to acquire the vasis at the runway and completed an uneventful landing. Additionally; on the descent below 10;000 feet; the airspeed did not decelerate below 250 until we were approximately 8;500 feet. More attention to altitude on the visual approach and airspeed on the descent is required on my part in the future. A combination of factors played a part in this event; fatigue being one of them. We started late and ended late; flying two long legs; [the first requiring] passage through immigration and customs; changing planes and flying into a challenging domestic airport (dca) late at night. I had not flown into dca in years. My first officer was a recently recalled from furlough pilot with limited experience on the plane. I; personally; have only three months experience on the plane as well. The combined lack of experience on the plane and the challenging arrival airport; compounded with fatigue makes a fertile ground for errors. I will prepare even more so the next time these circumstances present themselves.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737NG flight crew descended to 550 feet AGL six miles from the airport; versus recommended 1;800 feet MSL; while conducting a RIVER VISUAL approach to Runway 19 at DCA. Following receipt of an EGPWS Terrain warning they climbed and re-established the profile to a safe landing.

Narrative: After flying the OJAAY arrival into DCA; [we were given] radar vectors to the north of DCA for the River Visual 19; light winds and clear skies. We reported the Potomac River in sight when asked by ATC. I was Pilot Flying and had acquired a visual on the Potomac so that we could fly the ground track to the airport. I continued to gradually descend in vertical speed mode while configuring the aircraft and precisely flying the river; being careful not to overfly the prohibited areas. I leveled off at approximately 550 feet AGL while; visually; [we appeared to be] three to four NM from the airport. FOQA reported that we were five to six NM from airport [where] the RIVER VISUAL procedure recommends 1;800 feet. I easily had visual contact with all the structures on the banks of the river. GPWS alerted us with one 'too low; terrain' advisory. I initiated a gentle climb back up to 8 or 900 feet AGL and started to acquire the VASIs at the runway and completed an uneventful landing. Additionally; on the descent below 10;000 feet; the airspeed did not decelerate below 250 until we were approximately 8;500 feet. More attention to altitude on the visual approach and airspeed on the descent is required on my part in the future. A combination of factors played a part in this event; fatigue being one of them. We started late and ended late; flying two long legs; [the first requiring] passage through Immigration and Customs; changing planes and flying into a challenging domestic airport (DCA) late at night. I had not flown into DCA in years. My First Officer was a recently recalled from furlough pilot with limited experience on the plane. I; personally; have only three months experience on the plane as well. The combined lack of experience on the plane and the challenging arrival airport; compounded with fatigue makes a fertile ground for errors. I will prepare even more so the next time these circumstances present themselves.

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.