Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 18600; Flight Crew Type 1800
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
[During] practice approaches; student was controlling the airplane. On one approach the student descended to 500 FT above homes near the airport. I told him to increase the altitude to 600 FT AGL. As he was maneuvering he managed to descend to 300 FT AGL then climbed. We then made three more approaches and landings all of which were normal approaches in all aspects. This student will not be low in the future on an approach to an airport.
C172 instructor pilot reported his student descended to within 300 FT AGL near homes on a practice approach.