Super King Air 300
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 135; Flight Crew Total 12568; Flight Crew Type 1320
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
During approach into ZZZ; Approach Controller gave us a vector and said intercept final approach course. Because the final approach course was offset from the course between ZZZZZ and ZZZZZ1; the PIC queried him as to whether he wanted us to intercept 335 course to the runway or course between ZZZZZ and ZZZZZ1. Response was; 'intercept the final approach course.'Upon reaching ZZZZZ; extended centerline off of runway (final approach course). Controller said something to the effect of; 'you went a little past it; turn right (I think he gave us a heading); cleared for the approach. Then handed us off to Tower.Armed the approach; armed VNAV. As I was inside ZZZZZ at 3;000 feet (minimum at ZZZZZ was 2;200 feet); began descent to Glide Path (GP). The PIC disengaged the autopilot as we descended through GP and corrected up toward glide path at the same time as Tower gave us a 'low altitude alert; check altitude immediately.' The PIC corrected to glidepath; acquired the runway prior to reaching the MDA; set missed approach altitude and descended for an otherwise uneventful landing.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
Super King Air 300 flight crew reported confusion over ATC vectors and relied on automation incorrectly; causing a low altitude alert.