B767 is issued an ATC altitude alert during visual approach to sfo.

Attributes
ACN	605032
Time
Date	200312
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sfo.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : charted visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	605032
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was the pilot flying the FMS bridge visual runway 28R approach to sfo. After complying with all the vertical and lateral restrs, I was in the turn to final, in a descent when I decided the descent rate was too rapid. I disconnected the autoplt and made a correction to break the rate of descent at approximately 1500 ft MSL. At approximately the same time, the tower made a call to us saying 'air carrier X altitude alert, 1200 ft over san mateo bridge.' at that time I was level. I continued in level flight to intercept the GS to an uneventful landing. The low altitude alert came as a surprise as there is not altitude restr after axmul which was complied with. I complied with all the air carrier requirements for a stabilized approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 IS ISSUED AN ATC ALT ALERT DURING VISUAL APCH TO SFO.

Narrative: I WAS THE PLT FLYING THE FMS BRIDGE VISUAL RWY 28R APCH TO SFO. AFTER COMPLYING WITH ALL THE VERT AND LATERAL RESTRS, I WAS IN THE TURN TO FINAL, IN A DSCNT WHEN I DECIDED THE DSCNT RATE WAS TOO RAPID. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND MADE A CORRECTION TO BREAK THE RATE OF DSCNT AT APPROX 1500 FT MSL. AT APPROX THE SAME TIME, THE TWR MADE A CALL TO US SAYING 'ACR X ALT ALERT, 1200 FT OVER SAN MATEO BRIDGE.' AT THAT TIME I WAS LEVEL. I CONTINUED IN LEVEL FLT TO INTERCEPT THE GS TO AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. THE LOW ALT ALERT CAME AS A SURPRISE AS THERE IS NOT ALT RESTR AFTER AXMUL WHICH WAS COMPLIED WITH. I COMPLIED WITH ALL THE ACR REQUIREMENTS FOR A STABILIZED APCH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.