Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Air Traffic Control Developmental
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X was being handed off to me at 4;000 feet. I was about call the Sector to say I needed Aircraft X at 5;000 feet. I saw an aircraft at 4;900 feet which was a conflict for Aircraft X; so I waited to call so I wouldn't cause a conflict with their other traffic. Once Aircraft X was clear of that traffic they climbed Aircraft X to 5;000 feet; so I took the handoff at which point I saw Aircraft X descending through 4;900 in my 4;900 MVA (Minimum Vectoring Altitude). I called the Sector once I saw that and they said that Aircraft X was switched to me already. I then reached out to Aircraft X and they were on my frequency. I gave Aircraft X a low altitude alert and climb to 5;000 feet immediately. I gave a BRASHER warning to get his side of the story. While Aircraft X was in the air; they said that the previous sector gave them 4;000 feet. All arrivals should be at 5;000 feet or above. There is a MVA of 5;700 feet in the northwest part of my airspace.
We were doing an instructional flight. There was a possible traffic conflict for which Approach instructed us to climb to 5;000 feet leaving 4;000 feet. After the traffic was avoided; Approach cleared us back to 4;000 feet and switched us over to the next Approach. As soon as we made contact with the next Approach; they instructed to climb back to 5;000 feet due to the MVA (Minimum Vectoring Altitude) being lower in the area. They instructed us to copy down a phone number for a possible pilot deviation.
ROA TRACON Trainee Controller and an instructor pilot reported the pilot was assigned 4;000 feet which is below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude.