I keep getting this little voice in my head (yes, I know......
) - what with Meekal still going on about a teardrop pattern onto R12 with 'DME' etc and his father being pretty well up in aviation in Pakistan (so he
might just know) - suppose there WAS a ('unofficial'/'nod and a wink' from the authority) teardrop onto R12? You
could construct a safish 'home-build' at around 2600' on, say, the 310 radial from the VOR to, say, around 9DME, remain clear of terrain and finish up established i/b at around 7DME (about 5nm+ final) which is fine for an approach? Again suppose said Captain (ex PIA we believe) knew of this but set the wrong outbound radial, or 'decided' to fly a 'wider circuit' as, supposedly, the CVR has it? F/O a little spatially confused in grotty weather but eventually the old military 'where am I' instinct breaks through? Might account for the 'lie' - "visual with the runway" (most unlikely) and then "I see the hills".
Plausible? Will anyone admit to it?
PS - To hell with 'Sir, pull-up" etc
PPS I'll step up the tablets tomorrow