Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors
We were flying Aircraft X to ZZZ. The FO (First Officer) was flying. We were cleared for the visual approach to Runway XX. We were on a wide left downwind. The FO wanted to intercept final outside the final approach fix of ZZZZZ since we had the RNAV GPS for Runway XX loaded in the FMS as a backup. We were VFR and in sight of the rising terrain and Tower to the South/Southeast of the field. The Autopilot was on and the FO had flown downwind a little more than needed at 2;300 feet MSL and I was about to tell him to turn base; when I saw him start his turn. Just as we were starting our Base leg turn; Tower informed us of a low altitude alert and that we were below the minimum vector altitude and to check altitude. I replied that we were turning our base leg and had everything in sight. ATC didn't say anything else. We never received any EGPWS warnings of any kind. We then intercepted final and landed without incident.The FO flew an extended downwind; that caused us to enter an area that ATC determined we were too low for.Suggestions - Keep the visual pattern closer to the airport.
CRJ-200 Captain reported that the First Officer conducted a wide approach; entering an area with rising terrain that caused ATC to issue a low altitude alert. The First Officer elected to continue the approach to landing.