Annex 14:
IŽd like to say now there is even more than a mystery why they had to hit that mountain. The Speed / Altitude graph clearly shows they were at a safe altitude until few minutes before the crash.
Terrain is flat until you head for the course-reversal hold at ZEDAG. The 2550' mountain is smack in the center of the holding pattern. ATC should have climbed the flight to 5,400 before they entered the downwind TAA.
http://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/1303/05166R19.PDF