From the report-
At 0751:36, at 730 ft, the peak rate of descent derived from the recorded data was about 2,500 ft/min. At 0751:48, while passing 300 ft the derived rate of descent was still about 1,800 ft/min, the speed was 11 kt above the reference approach speed (Vref) and the aircraft was banked 23° to the left as the runway centreline was intercepted. At 0751:55, at 100 ft, the derived rate of descent was about 1,200 ft/min as the landing flare was commenced and a small amount of power reintroduced. The touchdown on the 1,800 m paved runway was normal at 0752:12.
A circling approach in IMC requires a normal RoD and normal manoeuvres for the type for a landing within the runway touchdown zone in order to descend below MDA along with the required viz and clear of cloud etc.
Everything stated is obviously grossly in excess of that requirement. According to the above report they went from 730' to touchdown including a power on flare in 36sec total!!
This extreme dive for the runway is beyond exceptional in any circumstance. A jet commencing a 3 degree descent from altitude at a 500KTAS / GS would be using a 2500fpm descent rate. This rate was achieved at some point above 1000 ft and was still maintained passing 730!
Everyone above has made comments on the Capt and FO roles and behaviour etc and I certainly agree with most of those comments.
The point I want to make, and not just in this particular incident and for every pilot is that these type of extreme manouvres suggest a get in at all costs mentality in order to save potentially nothing more than a few minutes of time.
A few lousy minutes at what cost?
In this case a potentially crashed large aeroplane and 53 lives lost! Seriously?
Surely even before commencing descent from MDA if it is apparent the cloud, viz or aircraft positioning is not going to enable a safe normal, stabilized appch and landing then flying another low level circuit to better position oneself will take at most another what, 0.1 hr, ie 6 odd minutes.
If the cloud , viz doesnt allow this then the conditions are obviously below circling mins in which case a MAppch is required and maybe another approach and circling attempt , another 10-20 odd min max or at most a diversion to altn or a brief holding period before a reattempt depending on conditions, fuel etc.
In NO CIRCUMSTANCE does the saving of a few minutes of time and thus a relatively few associated dollars justify any attempt to do so at the risk of an accident and loss of any number of lives.
How would any of us be able to live with ourselves afterward if we did so and survived a disaster when others did not??
If we were running late for work, how many of us would drive 30kmh plus or more over the speed limit and run every red light in order to make up the 5-15min we might be late??
Our lifelong training to operate efficiently and thus save time and money even if only a few minutes sets up a sub conscious mentality to do the type of things Ive described above that only clear rational thought and consideration of the consequences can override.