I am sorry, but I must be missing something here.
If the case in those photos is the same as the one in the accident, I fail to see how it could have been missed. The control column is well back from its normal position and whether or not a "full and free" was carried out, surely anyone familiar with any model of C130 should notice the CC position long before getting airborne - whether or not they could see the case whilst wearing goggles.