Got low altitude alert from ATC during VOR approach to ewr.

Attributes
ACN	110072
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : teb airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ewr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	110072
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On the VOR/DME runway 22L and right approach to ewr, we had passed the VOR and descended to 1800' until 5 DME. At approximately 3 DME the tower reported a low altitude alert to us. We were at the correct altitude (1800'). I assumed that the rapid descent from the initial altitude of 3000' by the VOR to 1800' caused a false alarm. I know the low altitude alarm is important to safety, but when it is falsely issued in the approach phase, it causes quite an alarm.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GOT LOW ALT ALERT FROM ATC DURING VOR APCH TO EWR.

Narrative: ON THE VOR/DME RWY 22L AND R APCH TO EWR, WE HAD PASSED THE VOR AND DESCENDED TO 1800' UNTIL 5 DME. AT APPROX 3 DME THE TWR REPORTED A LOW ALT ALERT TO US. WE WERE AT THE CORRECT ALT (1800'). I ASSUMED THAT THE RAPID DESCENT FROM THE INITIAL ALT OF 3000' BY THE VOR TO 1800' CAUSED A FALSE ALARM. I KNOW THE LOW ALT ALARM IS IMPORTANT TO SAFETY, BUT WHEN IT IS FALSELY ISSUED IN THE APCH PHASE, IT CAUSES QUITE AN ALARM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.