Brian
Thanks for your post. No one (plainly including me) KNOWS what happened.
I'm no AAIB bod so please don't read too much authority into my opinion.
Just seems to me it was the classic VFR into IMC accident so often re run all over aviation. Had it been a 'lesser' a/c and cargo than ZD576 methinks the fuss would have died down long ago. Also frankly I feel more sympathy for the pax-who were certainly guilty of nowt, than for the pilots who probably CFIT'd it.
I've no new info to add to your campaign. I simply saw this thread and was struck by it's length and by how much thought was given to all sorts of possible scenarios other than the most plausible one. Also by how keen posters seemed to be to excuse the pilots while giving much less bandwith to the pax.
As far as the charge of gross negligence goes, I understand what's been said re 'slightest doubt' etc. Acknowledged.
I still think they CFIT'd it tho, especially as it was plainly doing a big pullup, at a good speed, when it hit and given wx in that area can be treacherous.
Surely you don't think it would have turned out the same on a CAVOK day?
It is a shame they didn't have a proper IFR helo, but surely that angle was lost when they accepted the task.
All I'm saying is what loads of folk think but are too shy to post.
Happy landings!
ps I wouldn't rule out any of the factors you mentioned.
Roghead. Frankly, I agree.