Experience only gets you so far.
My observation is that experience, aligned with skill and knowledge, puts one well ahead of the game. One might appeal to a comment ascribed to Frank Borman -
A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill. (libquotes.com)
(I am not commenting on what the mishap pilot did or did not do as I wasn't there and would need a lot more information to contemplate things in detail. However, there are still lessons to be learned for the new chums).