The penny dropped about four seconds before he died, when he turned left to get out, so I take some comfort in his having gone to his death in the realisation of how reckless he had been.
I have just read the accident reports I could find on line, in response to your uncharitable comment.
The report I read stated that the aircraft was wings level when it struck the side of Mt Erebus.
Can you provide a link to your claim that they were “turning left to get out”?
https://www.fss.aero/accident-report...9-11-28-NZ.pdf
Paragraph 1.12.5 and 2.18