The causes of this accident are far more complex than what a cursory look at the evidence would at first produce in the way of assumptions. The material pertinent to the first investigation, the Mahon enquiry, the input of experts such as Gordon Vette, all must be reviewed closely, before holding forth with an opinion.
In which regard, it becomes manifestly clear, on consideration in particular of the testimony of the captains who had crewed earlier flights of identical character, (except that they returned of course in one piece), in addition to the erroneous INS data that the company gave Captain Collins, that he did not stuff up due to any lack of airmanship. The primary fault lay in the carelessness of the company. Further to that the training section was found negligent in the conduct of their briefing sessions, which, though designed to cover every conceivable aspect of these special flights into potentially hazardous conditions, did not in fact for a first timer such as Jim Collins, give him adequate preliminary exposure.
History is too full of cases of commanders held culpable on false or unsafe grounds, then hounded, even to the grave, later to be exonerated by those who'd smelled a rat and would not rest till they'd uncovered the truth of the matter.