one of the problems, besides the tragedy itself, is the poor translations.
could it be the crew wasn't in the configuration really means: they couldn't get the landing gear down?
and while screwing around trying to get the gear down, someone forgot to fly the plane first and stalled?
(all recall eastern airlines L1011).
and maybe the shaking reported by passengers on previous flight was a flap problem that only showed itself in a lowered flap configuration...and that instead of a gear problem it was a flap problem?
again, language makes me speculate to the above