Date: 202103
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.TRACON, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Dusk
Aircraft: Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure; Software and Automation; Chart Or Publication
Primary problem: Software and Automation

Narrative: Only upon my meeting with the chief pilot was I aware that I had a close range encounter with terrain.  We never received any type of warning.  The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) did not notify us nor did we get a terrain alert from ATC.  A previous report was submitted regarding this flight due to other reasons.  I viewed the flight path in question as a go around (not anything to hide).  The following is what I recall.  We planned and briefed a Localizer Approach.  When transferred to Approach we were informed the Localizer Approach was not available.  We were left with the RNAV Approach. I requested the First Officer to brief the approach.The RNAV Approach was showing in the FMS. Approach gave us a clearance to a fix; the First Officer responded; but I did not understand the fix.  A fix I was expecting to hear was not what I heard.  I asked the First Officer to request the fix again.  Approach replied and again I could not understand what was said.  I am not seeing anything on the approach plate nor FMS what I am hearing.  Approach mentioned that the fix is on the approach plate then spells it out. Now I understood and knew where to go.  We are heading to ZZZZZ and at ZZZZZ I notice the aircraft is not turning.  The FMS had a discontinuity then direct to ZZZZZ.  I turned off the auto pilot and hand fly to get back on track.From ZZZZZ to ZZZZZ1 the course was centering. Inside ZZZZZ1 was going IMC I wanted to go missed [approach].  Somewhere during this time; the flight in which I was following shifted.  The First Officer tried twice to call Approach for a heading and altitude. No answer.  I transferred the controls and called Approach.  Approach responded.  Approach said something about not to continue the descent and gave an altitude and heading.  The second time around we landed. In reviewing the flight; I can see many errors.  I allowed to many little errors become a larger error.  With the little errors I allowed myself to become distracted.




Synopsis: CRJ-900 Captain reported being notified by company that during a previous flight they had flown off course while conducting an approach and below the minimum terrain altitude for the procedure. The reporter stated they never received a terrain alert in the aircraft.