Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
ATIS was advertising LDA-R and we were set up for it. Being vectored for the approach I was still not receiving either LOC/GS. We were cleared for the LDA-DME 19 and the First Officer read it back before I could say anything. I questioned Tower and they told us they were using the LDA-DME and showed green. We were well outside the marker and I knew the approaches were very similar. I changed the LOC frequency and minimums and re-briefed the First Officer. After Bessie (1;600 FT) I continued down to our adjusted minimums of 800 FT. I inadvertently went below 1;000 FT prior to 4 DME and received a low altitude alert from the Tower. I was using FLCH. Normally I would have used FPA from the FAF but we had been left high. Remainder of approach and landing was normal. They still had not updated the ATIS after we had landed and I advised ground. If we had requested to be resequenced for the approach it may have helped by giving us additional time.
DCA ATIS reported the LDA-R approach active but because no LOC/GS signal was received an air carrier crew tuned the LOC; re-briefed the approach and continued to land after a low altitude alert prior to 4 DME.