PJ2 -
"Either a loss of SA occurred and they realized it, (just like the 727 crew did moments before they crashed northwest of Washington Dulles during a dark-and-dirty approach....."
There was some concern from many pilots (myself included) about the completeness of the investigation surrounding that accident. Not enough attention was payed to the possibility of a pressure differential on the West side of the hill they flew into because of the strong surface wind that could have caused the altimiter to give the wrong altitude.