As we discuss this tragedy, take a moment and try to put yourself into the pilot's seat and think how you would have reacted had you encountered deteriorating weather as you were routing along a highway that had rising ground on both sides of you.
You are sat in a very nice twin engined IFR equipped aircraft with an autopilot and plenty of bells and whistles.
You also had other Electronic Aids along with you.
You are Instrument Rated,
You are bound for an off airport landing site.....you are familiar with the route....you know there is clear air above you.....there are VMC conditions behind you and major airports are IMC but with weather well above all IFR Approach Minimums.
Having mulled all this over for a while.....keep your answer in mind while you read the many posts here, Media Reports, and News Broadcasts on TV.
Then ask yourself why your answer differs from what actually happened....and then ask yourself "why".
That is what needs to be our focus.....there are lessons to be learned here....probably the same old lessons that we have learned in far too many of these tragedies.