If this is any more than yet another IIMC at low level, an atttempted turnback/180 and resultant CFIT, I will be very surprised.
Agree 100% with the first bit, but the 180 idea doesn't fit in with the crazy high descent rate. Could be that he started a 180 then got disorientated. If he had done a 180 and carried on climbing, or even levelled off at 2000, he would have cleared the terrain.
There has been mention that if they'd gone IFR, they would have had to land at an airport. In the US at least (maybe not in Europe, no idea) it's perfectly legal to fly an approach to an airport then once you're in VMC, break it off and fly under the clouds to wherever you're going. Standard practice even FW if you're going to an airport that doesn't have an approach and the ceiling is reasonable.