It's hard not to feel for this crew. Who knows if they pushed limits but the captain was a veteran and presumably familiar with both airport and the limitations of the approach; as sad end to what was probably a distinguished career.
Not the type of approach facility I would want to deal with in those conditions; especially when they could have had a VOR DME approach there. Was there radar cover in the area or where they expected to let down using own nav? That could explain the end result if the aircraft only had basic kit.