A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
We were cleared for the approach to 35L. I set the wrong crossing altitude for the outer marker. The outer marker is RICKY at 2800; I set FAPON at 1700. ATC called with a low altitude alert. I climbed back up to 2800 and resumed the approach without further incident.Sticking to SOP would have prevented this if I had HAD the first officer verify the altitude at the outer marker. We were so preoccupied with getting down and slowing down neither one of us recognized my error.
When the Captain flying an A319 set an incorrect--and lower by over a thousand feet--FAF altitude in the Altitude Alert window contrary to SOP; the First Officer wasn't aware and didn't correct the error.  ATC issued a low altitude alert.