Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 136; Flight Crew Type 22663
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
Arriving Denver on the CLASH 3 STAR. Initially planning on 35R. We were given Runway 35L descending through 15;000 feet. Immediately after getting runway change; we were given a heading and cleared to 11;000 feet. ATC then cleared us for 9;000 feet. ATC asked if we had the airport in sight (we did) and turned us to a heading of 325 degrees and cleared us for the visual approach to 35L. That heading essentially aimed us directly at the FAF DYMON. I selected 7;000 feet in the altitude alert and continued the descent visually. Shortly after leveling at 7;000 feet; ATC advised us altitude alert; minimum altitude our sector 7;500 feet. I climbed up to 7;500 feet and remained there until glideslope interception. Flight continued uneventfully to DEN.I should have stayed at 9;000 feet until glideslope intercept.
Arriving DEN on the CLASH 3 STAR. Initially planning on 35R was given Runway 35L descending through 15;000 feet MSL. Immediately after getting runway change; we were cleared to 11;000 feet. ATC then cleared us for 9;000 feet. ATC asked if we had the airport in sight; we responded in the affirmative; and ATC turned us to a heading of 325 degrees; and cleared us for the Visual Approach to 35L. That heading essentially aimed us directly at the FAF DYMON on the ILS for Runway 35L.The Pilot Flying (PF) selected 7;000 feet in the altitude window and continued his descent visually. Shortly after arriving at 7;000 feet; ATC advised us Altitude Alert and stated minimum altitude was 7;500 feet in our sector. The PF immediately corrected our altitude to 7;500 feet and we stayed at that altitude until glideslope intercept for the ILS to 35L. We landed uneventfully in DEN.When cleared for the visual; stay at your last safe altitude assigned until intercepting glideslope; or have better awareness of the minimum altitude in the sector you are flying. Another option would be for visual clearance to land including a minimum altitude if required.
Flight crew reported getting an altitude alert from ATC after descending below the minimum safe altitude during arrival to DEN airport.