Whilst there is still some conjecture whether this was an overrun or undershoot, I feel compelled to comment on the content of several posts regarding “operating in this area” ,the necessity to mix IFR and VFR.
I too have had many years experience in this area, and I can confirm that there is a tendency for some crew to do this, and I would like to state that is PRECISELY the reason accidents happen.
Mixing IFR with VFR always increases risk unnecessarily. I can already hear the bold saying, “but if you don’t break the rules you won’t get in” .
My response, THAT IS WHAT AN ALTERNATE IS FOR.
Many years of C&T, several posts as CP, taught me when you do an instrument approach, if at the minima you look ahead and it is not BANK OF ENGLAND SAFE, go around. You will discover that there is never any obstacles above the minima to collide with.
let me be perfectly clear, you cannot hit anything doing a standard MAP.
Having said all that, I believe the accident is yet to be determined as an undershoot.