Citation V/Ultra/Encore (C560)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors
Aircraft X; wad descended to 3;000 FT and was slowed to 170 KTS and issued traffic to follow at 12 o'clock and 4 miles a B737 descending out of 2;000 FT; the pilot of Aircraft X readback; 'traffic in sight descending to 2;000 FT.' I held back the visual approach clearance knowing the aircraft had not passed the obstruction ahead who's MVA was 3;000 FT. I observed the aircraft descending through 2;300 FT and issued a low altitude alert and an immediate climb to 3;000 FT. The aircraft saw the obstruction and climbed back up to 3;000 FT. I would not have told him the altitude of the traffic; if I thought it would have confused the pilot into thinking that was his altitude.
TRACON Controller described a below MVA event when an IFR aircraft was issued the latitude of traffic and interpreted same as an assigned altitude starting a descent.