EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
Too low on the final approach path to the runway over the terrain that surrounds final. Misinterpretation of charted altitude and where we were on final in correlation to distance. Approached terrain to level inside FAF below glideslope intercept altitude; descent was too steep given the geographic location; which set off the warning. All we had to do to correct was level off at the already preselected altitude; but shallow the descent. Visual terrain clearance was guaranteed at all times while in VMC conditions.[Reporter suggests] Ensure proper altitude at DME locations. Extend final to intercept glideslope at proper altitude. Request vectors for the ILS approach instead of taking the visual.
EMB-145 First Officer reported descent below published safe altitudes; resulting in terrain conflict alert.