Forgiveness requested, please, if similar estimates to those below have been made heretofore - can't find any such on the discussion, no doubt will be corrected - waiting for brickbats.
Anyway...
In the Accident Unit preliminary report, the TAWS is noted audibly signalling "Three Hundred" at 17 seconds before the end of the CVR recording.
It later calls "One Hundred" with 5 seconds to go. Thus indicating, roughly, an average descent rate of 1000fpm during that segment of the approach.
The subsequent 3-second/60ft interval from "One Hundred" to "Forty" would indicate an even greater descent rate: 1200fpm.
At 1200 fpm, the time span from "Forty" to impacting terrain, is two seconds.
However, in the normal course of events, per the approach plate: with a target threshold speed of say, 110 kts, (and a similar ground speed, given the HWC was neglible), maintaining the glideslope gradient on R17 requires a final stabilized descent rate of approx 580fpm.
In order to maintain the published gradient, descending at 1000/1200 fpm, the aircraft would have to be travelling at speeds in excess of 180kt, which is unlikely.
So - (Speculation): high on the glideslope - steep gradient - excessive descent rate - bust minima - last moment dive - recovery impossible.... ??
(edited for spelling)
Last edited by justanotherflyer; 24th Mar 2011 at 23:15.