Dropping in the 'oggin'
The sequence of events described sounds depressingly like the string of similar accidents we had in the RN when Wasps and later Lynxs dropped into the oggin at half a mile on a ship controlled approach or SCA.
The investigators diagnosed a syndrome that highlighted the problems associated with transferring from instruments to visual at night. The SCA required the radar controller to say at half a mile "Look up for sight". the pilot then came off the dials and tried to pick out the gyro-stabilised landing aid which should be showing green. When he saw the green he called "On sight". He then descended from the 200 feet approach height and simultaneously decellerated from the approach speed to the hover alongside the ship. The problem was that it took a few second to understand what you were looking at when you first looked outside. The over-riding feeling when you did aquire enough cues was that you were going too fast and/or you were closer than you thought. Natural reaction was to lower the lever and a few seconds later ...... plop, you're in the drink. Happened so often it was getting boring.... not to say expensive.
G.