Narrative:

During approach into ZZZ; approach controller gave us a vector and said intercept final approach course. Because the final approach course was offset from the course between zzzzz and ZZZZZ1; the PIC queried him as to whether he wanted us to intercept 335 course to the runway or course between zzzzz and ZZZZZ1. Response was; 'intercept the final approach course.'upon reaching zzzzz; extended centerline off of runway (final approach course). Controller said something to the effect of; 'you went a little past it; turn right (I think he gave us a heading); cleared for the approach. Then handed us off to tower.armed the approach; armed VNAV. As I was inside zzzzz at 3;000 feet (minimum at zzzzz was 2;200 feet); began descent to glide path (gp). The PIC disengaged the autopilot as we descended through gp and corrected up toward glide path at the same time as tower gave us a 'low altitude alert; check altitude immediately.' the PIC corrected to glidepath; acquired the runway prior to reaching the MDA; set missed approach altitude and descended for an otherwise uneventful landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Super King Air 300 flight crew reported confusion over ATC vectors and relied on automation incorrectly; causing a low altitude alert.

Narrative: During approach into ZZZ; Approach Controller gave us a vector and said intercept final approach course. Because the final approach course was offset from the course between ZZZZZ and ZZZZZ1; the PIC queried him as to whether he wanted us to intercept 335 course to the runway or course between ZZZZZ and ZZZZZ1. Response was; 'intercept the final approach course.'Upon reaching ZZZZZ; extended centerline off of runway (final approach course). Controller said something to the effect of; 'you went a little past it; turn right (I think he gave us a heading); cleared for the approach. Then handed us off to Tower.Armed the approach; armed VNAV. As I was inside ZZZZZ at 3;000 feet (minimum at ZZZZZ was 2;200 feet); began descent to Glide Path (GP). The PIC disengaged the autopilot as we descended through GP and corrected up toward glide path at the same time as Tower gave us a 'low altitude alert; check altitude immediately.' The PIC corrected to glidepath; acquired the runway prior to reaching the MDA; set missed approach altitude and descended for an otherwise uneventful landing.

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.