Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Procedure; Weather
While I was flying the river visual to runway 19 into DCA I received an alert from the aircraft; 'Caution Obstacle.' At this time the autopilot was off and I was hand flying the approach making turns and following the river. It was raining which reduced my depth perception. I believed that I was a bit high and made an adjustment as I continued to descend along the river. I believe that I was pointed at the buildings for too long which caused the alert. When I received the alert I was just beginning a left turn to continue following the river and now realize that I am now low on the approach; I estimated about 200 to 250 feet low. I corrected for the deviation from the approach path and the alerts stopped. Having electronic flight path guidance as a backup for this approach will help prevent the deviation in the first place. If a deviation does occur; a faster and more aggressive correction will help.
While flying the river visual runway 19 approach into DCA we got a caution obstacle aural alert between 4 and 3 DME of DCA. The caution was for the buildings on the south side of the river around the 3 DME point. We were just about to start the left turn over the river and had the buildings insight. The FO (First Officer) corrected by turning left over the river and stopping the descent. After we were already correcting ATC advised us of a low altitude alert. I'm think we were about 200 ft lower than we should have been for about a half mile.
A flight crew flying a river visual approach in light rain received a 'Caution Obstacle' warning from their EGPWS. They corrected by turning away from the buildings they had in sight. Then ATC issued a low altitude alert. The First Officer corrected and the alerts stopped.