When the Senators get their turn to bat, which they must after the Truss team is bowled out for a miserably low score, the quote below is from the ATSB of the day (BASI) in 1993 and is (IMO) a very succinct appraisal of several important issues.
The investigation found that the circumstances of the accident were consistent with controlled flight into terrain. Descent below the minimum circling altitude without adequate visual reference was the culminating factor in a combination of local contributing factors and organisational failures. The local contributing factors included poor weather conditions, equipment deficiencies, inadequate procedures, inaccurate visual perception, and possible skill fatigue. Organisational failures were identified relating to the management of the airline by the company, and the regulation and licensing of its operations by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The same quote would have applied to Lockhart in 2004 and it's not too long a stretch to apply it to Pel Air. The thing is, (IMO) the change in the ATSB attitude, they fought like hell during Lockhart to make the same point and got stuck with Miller and MOU for their pains, the ANA was side stepped and CASA slowly but surely gained the upper hand. It does not seem be outlandish to suggest that by the time PA came up (or went down, as you like) the ATSB had just given up on an uneven battle, beaten down by money, power and ever increasing political clout of the CASA.
Had the same amounts of time, money, effort and intelligence been put into addressing the issues, would we sitting here waiting for a sensible response to Pel Air; would Lockhart River have occurred, would Hempel be dead?. The problem seems clear enough, but the solution has been patiently waiting since 1993. Hello, anyone home???.