It really just was not their day.
DozyWannabe, yes I know what you mean but isn't that was Captaincy is all about?
Human beings all do the best they can in the given circumstances which I am sure is what this crew did. But it seems to be that there was a lack of "problem-solving" on the flight deck. The first step in the solving of any problem is the acquisition of the correct information. Rule I is always maintain safe control of the aeroplane and then if you are not sure what to do sit on your hands and do nothing until you have clearly established what is going on. There are, in my opinion, only a few situations which require immediate action in an aircraft such as rejected take off, GPWS warning, windshear etc.
As has been said before this accident was a benchmark for the industry from which many lessons have (hopefully) been learned.
It took the sinking of the Titanic to get many of the rules for safety at sea which we now enjoy and which must have saved countless lives afterwards.