Thanks for the links, ORAC.
It is a bit odd, though.... the pilot was at FL190, and told to maintain that height unless he could "descend VMC one thousand on top". He was also told that he was 5 miles from Mont Blanc.
That means that in probably around one minute after confirming the instruction to maintain FL190 or descend in VMC, the pilot descended to 15500 ft and hit a mountain....
It seems a surprising mistake.
