Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Better monitor FO actions. Increase awareness of calculating descent points using distance from the runway to approximate a 3 degree descent path to the runway in order to avoid unnecessary and lengthy low level segments.  Flying at 3;000 feet about 15 miles WSW of IND direct to BIGRD on the RNAV Y 5R. Approach asked if we had the field in sight; we responded that we did; and then we were given a left turn pretty much direct to HUUPS; which is the final approach fix on the RNAV Y 5R; and cleared for the visual approach. Tower then handed us off to Tower. During this time while I was switching to Tower I became task saturated with my PM flying duties from the frequency change; getting a landing clearance; and the FO requesting flap configuration changes. After we were cleared to land I noticed we were just about to level off at 2;100 feet. Well below a 3 degree descent path given our current position to the runway. I had not noticed the FO had set 2;100 feet; which is the altitude at HUUPS; and started a descent as soon as we were cleared for the approach. We leveled off at 2;100 feet and continued for some time before reaching HUUPS and continuing the descent for the runway. We were level at approximately 1;300' feet AGL for a while before descending for landing. I don't think this was technically illegal or in violation of an FAR; as we were cleared for the visual and in the process of making a descent for landing; but I do feel it's not a good technique to simply set the FAF altitude; dive and drive to that altitude; level off for several miles; then continue descent once over the FAF. We were not on a published portion of an approach; and well below a 3 degree descent path to the runway. This wasn't an issue for this particular approach; but it could become an issue at night in mountainous terrain or if there are obstacles in the area.
Air carrier Captain reported getting too low while on a visual approach to IND airport.