A320 flight crew reported descending early during a visual approach to den resulting in a low altitu...

Attributes
ACN	1324556
Time
Date	201601
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	DEN.Airport
State Reference	CO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 142 Flight Crew Total 19838 Flight Crew Type 6402
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 125 Flight Crew Type 8502
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

We were being vectored for an approach to rwy 35R in den descending to 11;000 ft. We were asked if we had the airport in sight and cleared for the visual. The PNF set the MCP altitude to 7;000 ft. (FAF altitude). About 15 miles from the airport we were asked if we would like 35L. Both pilots saw the airport and we agreed to the runway change. ATC did not give us an altitude restriction. We were then distracted by ATC giving us another vector to intercept to avoid traffic he cleared for the 35R approach. We discussed the terrain and obstructions before descending. Visibility was unrestricted. At about 7;500 ft. We were given a low altitude warning by ATC. We verified our altitude and continued to descend. A moment later we got a GPWS too low terrain warning and climbed to 8;000 ft. The approach and landing continued without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew reported descending early during a visual approach to DEN resulting in a low altitude alert from Approach Control followed quickly by an EGPWS terrain warning. The flying First Officer climbed from 7;000 feet to 8;000 feet.

Narrative: We were being vectored for an approach to Rwy 35R in DEN descending to 11;000 ft. We were asked if we had the airport in sight and cleared for the visual. The PNF set the MCP altitude to 7;000 ft. (FAF altitude). About 15 miles from the airport we were asked if we would like 35L. Both pilots saw the airport and we agreed to the Runway change. ATC did not give us an altitude restriction. We were then distracted by ATC giving us another vector to intercept to avoid traffic he cleared for the 35R approach. We discussed the terrain and obstructions before descending. Visibility was unrestricted. At about 7;500 ft. we were given a low altitude warning by ATC. We verified our altitude and continued to descend. A moment later we got a GPWS too low terrain warning and climbed to 8;000 ft. The approach and landing continued without further incident.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

A320 flight crew reported descending early during a visual approach to den resulting in a low altitude alert from approach control followed quickly by an egpws terrain warning. The flying first officer climbed from 7;000 feet to 8;000 feet.