Emb-145 flight crew descended below the glideslope inside the final approach fix; but corrected back...

Attributes
ACN	1133957
Time
Date	201312
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Tower
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Inside the final approach fix for runway 22; first officer noticed that we were below glideslope. The autopilot was engaged and approach selected tracking the localizer however; unbeknownst to us; the VNAV was in pitch mode. The first officer brought this fact to my attention and I added power and began to climb to re-intercept the glideslope. Approximately the same time; I intercepted the glideslope we broke out VMC conditions and had the runway and PAPI insight. We performed a visual landing.believing the autopilot had captured the ILS correctly; I relied too heavily on automation and failed to keep my scan going. I must keep in mind that the buttons in the flight guidance panel are myth and what displays on the pfd is truth. Meaning-- I can't rely on the aircraft to do what I command by simply pressing a button on the flight guidance panel. I must verify the plane is doing what I command by what is displayed on the pfd. I must also keep my scan going and not get complacent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB-145 flight crew descended below the glideslope inside the Final Approach Fix; but corrected back to the glideslope after discovering that the VNAV was in pitch mode.

Narrative: Inside the final approach fix for Runway 22; First Officer noticed that we were below glideslope. The autopilot was engaged and approach selected tracking the localizer however; unbeknownst to us; the VNAV was in pitch mode. The First Officer brought this fact to my attention and I added power and began to climb to re-intercept the glideslope. Approximately the same time; I intercepted the glideslope we broke out VMC conditions and had the runway and PAPI insight. We performed a visual landing.Believing the autopilot had captured the ILS correctly; I relied too heavily on automation and failed to keep my scan going. I must keep in mind that the buttons in the flight guidance panel are myth and what displays on the PFD is truth. Meaning-- I can't rely on the aircraft to do what I command by simply pressing a button on the flight guidance panel. I must verify the plane is doing what I command by what is displayed on the PFD. I must also keep my scan going and not get complacent.

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.

Emb-145 flight crew descended below the glideslope inside the final approach fix; but corrected back to the glideslope after discovering that the VNAV was in pitch mode.