A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 142; Flight Crew Total 19838; Flight Crew Type 6402
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors
We were being vectored for an approach to Rwy 35R in DEN descending to 11;000 ft. We were asked if we had the airport in sight and cleared for the visual. The PNF set the MCP altitude to 7;000 ft. (FAF altitude). About 15 miles from the airport we were asked if we would like 35L. Both pilots saw the airport and we agreed to the Runway change. ATC did not give us an altitude restriction. We were then distracted by ATC giving us another vector to intercept to avoid traffic he cleared for the 35R approach. We discussed the terrain and obstructions before descending. Visibility was unrestricted. At about 7;500 ft. we were given a low altitude warning by ATC. We verified our altitude and continued to descend. A moment later we got a GPWS too low terrain warning and climbed to 8;000 ft. The approach and landing continued without further incident.
On approach into Denver; we were given a visual to Runway 17R [35]. I set in the outer marker altitude of 7;000 feet. During the descent; approach asked if we would accept a visual to 17L [35] and of course we accepted. As I was busy entering in the new runway I got distracted and approach called to 'check altitude' as we were below the minimum vectoring altitude. It was then that I realize the first officer had descended to 7;000 feet approximately 10 miles early. Just as the First officer was leveling off we received a blurb of a 'terrain' warning and we climbed back up to 8;000 ft. The rest of approach was normal. Having been flying into Denver for many years I know better. To rub it in and make me feel even worse was; the next morning as I was flight planning and waiting for dispatch to load flight plan I read the weekly bulletin that on the front page addressed descending too early on a visual approach.
A320 flight crew reported descending early during a visual approach to DEN resulting in a low altitude alert from Approach Control followed quickly by an EGPWS terrain warning. The flying First Officer climbed from 7;000 feet to 8;000 feet.