aterpster - however difficult you may have found CTL before you and flying parted company, it remains a straightforward exercise to fly. Like all bits of aviation, some of which are more difficult than others, it requires a basic flying skill (circuit flying) and judgement of when to quit if things go pear-shaped.
hazard of CTL in monsoonal rain conditions. Those hills were almost certainly experiencing upslope, moist conditions. (orographical lift)
- this is all irrelevant!
"monsoonal rain conditions" - nasty, but don't carry on when you lose sight of where you are - exactly the same on a damp 'stratusey' day in the UK. - look - no monsoon!
"Those hills" - forget them! The CTL goes nowhere near them. Orographic stratus is not part of this equation. Had the crew flown a sensible DOWNWIND heading the hills could have been covered in snow or skyscrapers for all the difference it would have made.
Once again you have avoided answering questions. What were the "areas "unfriendly" to overflight" of which you speak?
40 years is a long time out of it. All these glitzy approaches of which you speak are terrific, but let's not take away the requirement to be able to fly sensibly? You almost post as if you believe that when something requires a basic flying skill that cannot be achieved with an autopilot or computer it should be stopped.
You need to accept that regardless of circles/ovals/whatever drawn on maps, this crew went steaming off straight to the scene of the accident. That is the issue that needs to be addressed.