B757-200 flight crew reported receiving a low altitude alert from the tower during a visual approach...

Attributes
ACN	1562958
Time
Date	201807
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

This was IOE for 1st time captain upgrade. In day VFR conditions; we accepted a visual approach. Student set himself on a 4 NM downwind; then set 2100 feet in the altitude window. This was the FAF altitude; which is just under a 4 NM final. Unfamiliar with the field; the student elected to take a slightly longer final. Just prior to turning base at about 8 nms from the field; the tower controller stated; 'low altitude alert. The MSA in that quadrant is 2500 feet. Climb to 2500 feet.' the student then selected 2500 feet in the altitude window; and climbed in V/south from 2100 feet to 2500 feet. [The] rest of the approach was uneventful.[the cause was] unfamiliarity with the field on the student captain's part; and perhaps lack of information on the company pages or reference pages of jeppesen; because it is fairly common for pilots to descend to the FAF altitude on a visual approach if inside of the if or IAF.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 flight crew reported receiving a low altitude alert from the Tower during a visual approach.

Narrative: This was IOE for 1st time Captain upgrade. In day VFR conditions; we accepted a visual approach. Student set himself on a 4 NM downwind; then set 2100 feet in the altitude window. This was the FAF altitude; which is just under a 4 NM final. Unfamiliar with the field; the student elected to take a slightly longer final. Just prior to turning base at about 8 NMs from the field; the Tower Controller stated; 'Low altitude alert. The MSA in that quadrant is 2500 feet. Climb to 2500 feet.' The student then selected 2500 feet in the altitude window; and climbed in V/S from 2100 feet to 2500 feet. [The] rest of the approach was uneventful.[The cause was] unfamiliarity with the field on the Student Captain's part; and perhaps lack of information on the company pages or reference pages of Jeppesen; because it is fairly common for pilots to descend to the FAF altitude on a visual approach if inside of the IF or IAF.

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.