Date: 201701
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: LBB.Airport, TX
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 5
Light: Night
Aircraft: Widebody; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Cargo / Freight / Delivery
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class C LBB
ATC / advisory: Tower LBB
Aircraft component: Flap/Slat Control System
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Detector: Automation Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: On arrival into LBB; we needed to work an issue due to a flap fault. Decided to not proceed with the approach and climbed from 4700 MSL to 6000 MSL; get vectors so we could handle the problem. Vectors took us west; then to the south and west of the airport. Checklist was finished and all data rechecked; told approach that were ready to head back to the airport. At this time; we were about 15 miles to the southwest of the field and starting to get configured and running checklists. From our current position; we were cleared for the visual approach to 35L. We saw some tall towers below us and to the left of our heading to intercept the final and at least one to the right of course; so we decided to stay on a heading to intercept the extended final outside of FRIER for 35L; which would than maintain the towers in sight to the left and right of our course. As the final approach altitude was 4700 MSL; we descended from 6000 to 4700 MSL so as to be on altitude at the FAF at about 9 miles from the field (There is a note in the airport briefing guides to be alert for close in FAF and less altitude to get stabilized by). Once we checked in with tower; they told they were getting a low altitude alert for us; told them we were climbing back to 5200 MSL until on the extended centerline and clear of towers. Once on final; we went back down to 4700 and had a normal approach. Looking back; I probably should have been more directive in the location of where we needed to get vectors to so as not to be in a spot where; when cleared for the approach; it would put in in the area of tall towers. While all the towers were in sight; I should have recognized that they were a potential hazard to our route of flight to commence the approach. I talked with the First Officer about our flight and we decided to put in a report. After looking closer at the approach chart; there are quite a few towers; with some good height to them; to the south of the field; and very near the extended center line for runway 35L. It might be a good idea to state something about the towers and their proximity to the final of 35L in the airport briefing guide.




Synopsis: Air carrier Captain reported receiving a low altitude alert from ATC while on a night approach to LBB.