So Dozywannabe, with the TACAN out on the day, can you find me another airline that descends below MSA based solely on what the IRS is telling them? Another airline, anywhere in the world? Can you find me a navigation systems maker who made a prelaser gyro system and claimed it never required updating?
On the day, with the correct co-ordinates, that aircraft still could have hit terrain if the IRS had wandered and there was no Tacan to do a position update.
Yes, the company panicked and did some stupid things subsequent to the disaster but it was very poor airmanship that put the aircraft at an altitude where CFIT could take place.
If an engine caught fire due to incorrect assembly, as a crew do we put the fire out and land somewhere safe or do we crash and say the engine shouldn't have been on fire?
Descending below MSA, under radar, does basic airmanship still dictate we check our position?