Precluded Flight In Accordance With Vfr
Caz,
You pluck this statement completely out of context and quote it as if it were Holy Writ. And try defining VICINITY in the context of this accident. One mile, five, ten?
If the flight could not be completed without entry into IFR in the VICINITY of the Mull then the whole planning proceedure was wrong. The crew and the Authorising Officer got it wrong before departure.
Isn't it amazing that the BOI, Reviewing Officers, FAI, PAC, and HOL all failed to spot this glaring error.
The point is all of these bodies / individuals accepted the true intentions of the crew. To identify the Mull while VMC out to sea, to follow the coastline to the Great Glen, fly VMC up the Great Glen, identify Fort George turn right and land.
There was nothing in the Forecast that says this was not possible.
You are correct that neither of us was there, but the conditions at the lighthouse were irrelevant, since the crew intended to turn before they got there.
Mr Hollbrook was there. He puts the aircraft in VMC at sensible height and speed and in a good position to execute the plan in VFR. Any negligence / error / technical malfunction happened (almost certainly) after that sighting