Rotorspeed.
Our posts crossed, but you mention that it is nonsense to remain VMC up to MSA provided you are aware of obstacles and the surrounding area. This is exactly what I'm getting at! Do you know of every obstruction including power-lines within 2 miles of your house? You say that the area is flat with nothing above 200' you shouldn't think. Shouldn't think! I would like more certainty than a 'shouldn't think'. Besides which, it is possible that you could hit something lower than 200'. Trees, perhaps?
You mention that his recognising the yard would lead him to think that he was nearly there. If he recognised the yard he would have known that he was nearly there. I mentioned the problem that this causes on my first post on this thread.
'Tragic lesson for us all'.
Only if we learn something from it.