A C172 flight instructor reported that the pilot being given instrument instruction had descended we...

Attributes
ACN	1339829
Time
Date	201603
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 720 Flight Crew Type 250
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

Established on the final approach course for the VOR approach; 8 mile DME from the airport (3 miles from the final approach fix); the published altitude is 2400 ft MSL. The student I was teaching was flying the aircraft. I initiated a simulated; partial-panel situation by placing a card over the G1000 display; simulating an ahrs/air data computer failure. The student proceeded to turn the aircraft and descend simultaneously. After correcting a minor course deviation; I looked down at my standby altimeter. I saw the needle on the number 2 (believing we were at 2200 ft MSL; 200 ft below the published altitude for that portion of the approach.) I soon realized we were at 1200 ft MSL. I assumed control of the aircraft and initiated a climb. The tower called my tail number and issued a low altitude alert. I informed the controller we were aware of the error and were in the process of correcting it. I am a recently certified instrument flight instructor; with very little experience as an instrument flight instructor. We were in a high stress portion of the flight; and I neglected to pay attention to altitude along with the course deviation I was trying to correct. This was a learning experience as an instructor; and as a pilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 flight instructor reported that the pilot being given instrument instruction had descended well below the published altitude on a VOR approach.

Narrative: Established on the final approach course for the VOR approach; 8 mile DME from the airport (3 miles from the final approach fix); the published altitude is 2400 ft MSL. The student I was teaching was flying the aircraft. I initiated a simulated; partial-panel situation by placing a card over the G1000 display; simulating an AHRS/ADC failure. The student proceeded to turn the aircraft and descend simultaneously. After correcting a minor course deviation; I looked down at my standby altimeter. I saw the needle on the number 2 (believing we were at 2200 ft MSL; 200 ft below the published altitude for that portion of the approach.) I soon realized we were at 1200 ft MSL. I assumed control of the aircraft and initiated a climb. The Tower called my tail number and issued a Low Altitude Alert. I informed the controller we were aware of the error and were in the process of correcting it. I am a recently certified Instrument Flight Instructor; with very little experience as an Instrument Flight Instructor. We were in a high stress portion of the flight; and I neglected to pay attention to altitude along with the course deviation I was trying to correct. This was a learning experience as an instructor; and as a pilot.

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.