Without getting into a blame exercise...
The crash site has been suggested ot be located about 7miles NW of the field.
The Sector safe in that area is 10000', but on the Pelil star, inside of 6 miles(pelil) is 8000', and the VOR procedure starts at 8000', descending to 7000' downwind, and then 4500' (which is about 7miles from the threshold) to the final descent point, south west.
The actual terrain in the area west to north west of the field ranges from 4000-6000'.
At 7miles inbound it would be expected that an aircraft on a NPA would be partially configured, and slow, (and posssibly with a fairly low descent rate).
It would be a simple error to not appreciate the levels associated with the procedure. A crew made a similar error going into alicante (i think) about a year or so ago, and got a pull up alert (heard over the radio), when they accepted a self position to final, and descended a little too early.
All conjecture at this point.