A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 85; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 1450
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; 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 visual approach to Runway 16L at RNO. We briefed and were using the RNAV (GPS) X Runway 16L approach as a backup since it was my first time ever landing on 16L. Approximately 2 NM north northeast of SEKAW; I inadvertently descended approximately 200 FT below the required crossing restriction of 7;200 FT at SEKAW. [I] disconnected the autopilot and corrected back to 7;200 FT. As we began correcting; Approach Control advised us of a low altitude alert and asked if we had the terrain in sight. We confirmed that we had the terrain in sight and were correcting. We crossed SEKAW at 7;200 FT and completed a normal approach and landing. Preventive: confirm meeting SEKAW crossing restriction prior to arming APPC mode on RNAV approach.
A319 Captain reported descending below charted altitude on visual approach to RNO prompting a low altitude alert call from ATC. Flight returned to charted altitude and continued approach.