I recall, that at the time, the altimeter reading could be a 'confused' reading, due to the positioning of the hands on 'the clock' of the instrument.
Three hands on the scale.
Sometime later, a 'Crash Comic' in the form of the "Aviation Safety Digest' of the time, published a photo of an altimeter, as an education tool, on the 'back page', showing a reading, with the quote,
"Thirteen thousand feet and, Baby, its cold outside..." (or similar.)
It is my recollection that the reading shown on the photo was 3,000ft. (Later still, an apology followed.)
There was a thought that a 'similar' misread my have caused the CFIT...into the ocean.
Someone may find that photo, now that the 'Digest' is digitalised.......
And altimeter displays have been modified.
Regards