A check airman providing initial operating experience to a new first officer was distracted by a run...

Attributes
ACN	1147530
Time
Date	201401
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	TFFF.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Saab 340 Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Check Pilot Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 9200 Flight Crew Type 600
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

Passing the final approach fix on the VOR approach to runway 10 at tfff we started our descent to minimums with an altitude restriction of 1;090 MSL before minimums. Before reaching the intermediate altitude the controller advised us to exit the runway after landing via [taxiway] a after which I reached for the airport diagram which I had on my left over my flight bag. When I looked back at my altimeter I was very surprised to see that we were reaching approach minimums already. I reacted by taking positive control of the aircraft; announcing my controls and disengaging the autopilot to get back when the controller advised us that he got a terrain [low altitude] alert. I responded that we were at minimums and the controller said 'roger'. We never had a GPWS alert and this whole approach is conducted over the water. It was a clear night and I had the runway and the surroundings in sight from 12 miles out. We continued and made an uneventful landing and taxied to the ramp; my brand new first officer; for whom I was conducting initial operating experience; was not familiar with this airport and was the pilot flying.what I learned from this is to be very alert at all times and never take my eyes of what's going on and I strongly assure you that this will never happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Check Airman providing initial operating experience to a new First Officer was distracted by a runway exit clearance provided by the Tower and; while he researched the airport page the First Officer descended excessively triggering a low altitude alert from ATC.

Narrative: Passing the final approach fix on the VOR approach to Runway 10 at TFFF we started our descent to minimums with an altitude restriction of 1;090 MSL before minimums. Before reaching the intermediate altitude the Controller advised us to exit the runway after landing via [Taxiway] A after which I reached for the airport diagram which I had on my left over my flight bag. When I looked back at my altimeter I was very surprised to see that we were reaching approach minimums already. I reacted by taking positive control of the aircraft; announcing my controls and disengaging the autopilot to get back when the Controller advised us that he got a terrain [low altitude] alert. I responded that we were at minimums and the Controller said 'Roger'. We never had a GPWS alert and this whole approach is conducted over the water. It was a clear night and I had the runway and the surroundings in sight from 12 miles out. We continued and made an uneventful landing and taxied to the ramp; my brand new First Officer; for whom I was conducting Initial Operating Experience; was not familiar with this airport and was the pilot flying.What I learned from this is to be very alert at all times and never take my eyes of what's going on and I strongly assure you that this will never happen again.

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.

A check airman providing initial operating experience to a new first officer was distracted by a runway exit clearance provided by the tower and; while he researched the airport page the first officer descended excessively triggering a low altitude alert from ATC.