I wonder if it's possible that the PAPI was obscured by the hill, but a mix of red and white lights was seen in the rush hour traffic on the highway (Interstate 59) just beyond the opposite end of the runway? A crew that was very tired could possibly have been pulled in like this, particularly in the type of light one has at that time of morning.
Such an illusion could be even more convincing if most of the runway lights were also obscured by the hill.
-drl
Last edited by deSitter; 21st Aug 2013 at 11:58.