B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 221
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
I; the pilot flying; when cleared for a visual approach looked at the FMS to get the altitude to set in for the final approach. I accidentally looked at the wrong line on the FMS and set in the TDZE and descended below the FAF altitude. I noticed the VASI was all red lights and; upon reaching 1;000 FT AGL; stopped the descent and flew level until the glide path.
After being cleared the visual approach to [Runway] 16L; the First Officer intended to set the FAF altitude of 6;000 FT and instead set field elevation of 4;300 FT. I did not notice the improper altitude as we were looking at the runway. We noticed the VASI was showing low and then I mentioned the wrong altitude was set. We leveled off at 5;100 FT until back on glideslope. Soon after; Tower asked us to check our altitude. We soon regained normal glide path and landed uneventfully.
A B737 First Officer set the SLC field elevation in the MCP Altitude Window during a night visual approach then descended below the Final Approach Fix crossing altitude and at 1;000 FT realized the aircraft was low because of red VASI lights.