Approach controller described a low altitude event when descending an air carrier to 3;700 but faili...

Attributes
ACN	956364
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Check Pilot Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

A CRJ7 checked in and I descended him 3;700 and asked him if he could accept a visual approach to runway 28. He responded with an altitude read back that was difficult to understand due to his accent and said he could not accept runway 28 and that he needed runway 24. I proceeded to tell him to expect a visual approach to runway 24. A few moments passed and I noticed his altitude at 3;400 and descending and issued a low altitude alert. I then climbed the aircraft to 3;700. Recommendation; I would recommend that extra caution be used when dealing with pilots who have a difficult accent to understand. I would also recommend that anytime a controller has a question as to a proper read back that they make it clear and obvious that the aircraft understand the control instructions that were issued to them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Approach Controller described a Low Altitude event when descending an Air Carrier to 3;700 but failing to note the incorrect altitude read back of 3;000; the Controller acknowledging increased vigilance is sometime necessary.

Narrative: A CRJ7 checked in and I descended him 3;700 and asked him if he could accept a Visual Approach to Runway 28. He responded with an altitude read back that was difficult to understand due to his accent and said he could not accept Runway 28 and that he needed Runway 24. I proceeded to tell him to expect a Visual Approach to Runway 24. A few moments passed and I noticed his altitude at 3;400 and descending and issued a Low Altitude Alert. I then climbed the aircraft to 3;700. Recommendation; I would recommend that extra caution be used when dealing with pilots who have a difficult accent to understand. I would also recommend that anytime a controller has a question as to a proper read back that they make it clear and obvious that the aircraft understand the control instructions that were issued to them.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Approach controller described a low altitude event when descending an air carrier to 3;700 but failing to note the incorrect altitude read back of 3;000; the controller acknowledging increased vigilance is sometime necessary.