Will and KMD
FAR 91.3 puts the ultimate responsibility on the pilots, your cynical blaming the company for the pilot's lack of ability and professionalism is over the top. The pilots always had the ability, yes, the responsibility to say, NO! Colgan and the commuter airline business will ultimately pay with bankruptcy after passengers say NO to flying with poorly run companies. Responsibility is paying the consequences for one's failings--the pilots paid the ultimate price. No one anywhere but in that cockpit said "crash this airplane".
BTW, I have been in management and labor, been a civilian supervisor, a military commander and an ALPA representative, so please don't tag me either way.
GF
PS, if they were earning Micky D's pay, why were they in the front end of an airliner and not home in bed having managed the local McDonalds?