This post is not to address what and why happened yesterday - nobody really knows, the AAIB will publish in due course, there is already contradictory information, and finger pointing helps nobody. And as with all accidents, it will probably be a chain of events / factors.
However, there are valid questions raised above about circuit joining procedures, and am sure all could do with a rethink on what they do, maybe versus what they should do.
AFAIK, this is about as authoritative as the "defined" best practice to join a circuit
CAA Overhead Join Poster. So a direct crosswind join is not the
standard. Whether you like the overhead join or not, it does give a good opportunity to pick out all other aircraft, including departing traffic. NB what the poster says
Watch for aircraft taking off, as they could pose a hazard.
If people really feel the OHJ is dangerous, it is not worth whinging on here - they should be filing MORs highlighting the hazards, and campaigning to change it. But until that change, and unless Shoreham has a correctly publicised alternative procedure, the OHJ appears to me to be the "correct" way to join a visual circuit. As with all "SOPs", one can deviate, but the accountability and responsibility for doing so rest with those (which may be ATC as well as crew) making that decision.
Willing to be corrected if the OHJ is not documented as the "best practice".
NoD