Small Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 4.0
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Human Factors; Chart Or Publication; Airspace Structure
I was conducting training on local east and Aircraft X was on the approach in IMC conditions. I was concerned about their speed as they were faster than a previous arrival and that was a factor with the staggered spacing we needed. It appeared Aircraft X was also descending rapidly and I was going to have the Trainee ask Aircraft X to verify their altitude when he was done asking a question. Before that could be accomplished the MSAW (Minimum Safe Altitude Warning) activated and I had the Trainee issue a safety alert. Aircraft X then shallowed their descent and landed.In hindsight I should have communicated with Aircraft X earlier about their altitude. We were discussing the speed issue primarily and that back and forth took too long. Both the speed and altitude were of importance.
SLC Tower Controller reported being distracted talking to their trainee and issued a late Minimum Safe Altitude alert to an aircraft on approach.