PC-12
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
I was providing OJT (On the Job Training) on West Radar and we were in a North Flow. Aircraft X came over requesting an RNAV Approach into ZZZ and was cleared direct to a ZZZZZ. Shortly after Aircraft X was given the approach clearance and told to cross ZZZZZ at 5000 ft. The pilot read everything back correctly from the clearance and I observed the pilot crossing ZZZZZ at the correct altitude. TRACON called to request approval for Aircraft Y direct to the field and I think I zoomed my scope out to look at the aircraft. I then turned my attention to Aircraft Y and did not scan back to Aircraft X before my trainee switched them to the ZZZ Tower. Shortly after the frequency change was given another controller said 'I think he too low.' At that point I went back to Aircraft X and realized they were at 3500 ft. descending and needed to be at 3900 ft. on that segment of the approach. I told the trainee to call Tower and tell them to issue a low altitude alert. The controller said 'you want me to do it now?' I told them that Aircraft X needed to be at 3900 ft. on that segment of the approach. The lowest I observed the aircraft descend to was 3300 ft. on the approach segment before starting their climb back up.I was disappointed in myself for not scanning back and recognizing that Aircraft X was low on the approach when they were switched. My trainee is at a stage where I am trying to give him a little more autonomy and help him feel like he has ownership/responsibility for the position. Unfortunately; I let my guard down a little too much and didn't recognize the situation quickly enough. I did feel a little extra tired today and not quite as focused as I usually am.In the future I am going to stay more vigilant no matter what stage the trainee is at. In addition I am also going to hold off on changing the color of the data block to blue until I scan their altitude and give them a frequency change. From a technology standpoint I was disappointed that the Low Altitude Alert did not go off in this situation. The red font with LA (Low Altitude Alert) really grabs your attention and I think it would have helped us recognize this situation earlier.
GEG TRACON Controller reported not noticing an aircraft had descended below the glidepath while performing on the job training.