Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 175
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors
On arrival into ZZZ; we were instructed to turn to a heading and descend from 11;000 ft. to 3;000 ft. We began a descent using speed mode set at 250 kts. Just below 4;000 ft.; we received an Obstacle Caution message. During the process of turning the descent into a climb; which removed the caution message; we were instructed to climb to 4;000 ft. I was able to identify the obstacle; an antenna; below and to the right of the aircraft. We passed the antenna above and to the left. We leveled off at 4;000 ft. From there; we were vectored to a visual approach to [Runway] XX and proceeded with a normal visual approach and landing.Descending in speed mode likely caused the aircraft to approach the level off altitude earlier than ATC anticipated thus causing the higher closure rate to the obstacle; generating the caution message. Better terrain awareness could have prompted a shallower descent rate; perhaps using vertical speed mode. Querying ATC about the level off altitude; suggesting a higher bottom altitude; could also have reduced or eliminated the occurrence of the caution message.
Air carrier First Officer reported that a high rate of descent during arrival triggered an obstacle caution message nearby an antenna.