They commend the crew for their actions and sticking to SOPs, I can't see a problem but I guess I may be missing something.
Interesting to read the old DCA Aviation Safety Digests where political correctness was yet to be invented and the editors had no hesitation in calling a spade a spade by saying the pilot stuffed up. Having said that nowadays ATSB do say: It is not a function of the ATSB to apportion blame or determine liability.
Examples (edited for brevity) from ASD No1 July 1953 and others of that era:
.The failure of the pilot of the DH.84 to complete a circuit of the aerodrome prior to landing is considered to be a poor display of airmanship. In addition it is considered that the pilot of the DC-3 was not completely blameless as he apparently failed to ensure the approaches were clear before entering the runway.
............................................................ ...............................
A DH.82 flown by an instructor carried out violent manoeuvres in the circuit area at Maylands. This was the second breach by the pilot within a short time and he has been reprimanded for his conduct. In addition his recent application for the pilot for upgrading as an instructor has been deferred pending his demonstration of ability to accept the responsibilities ands privileges specified in A.N.O. Part 40.
............................................................ ....................................
An Auster taxied past the Control Tower at Bankstown within 20 feet of the signal square. The wind "T" was pointing NE, but the pilot took off into the SW without the pilot giving any notice of his intentions. During the take-off, the aircraft crossed the landing path of several aircraft causing some of them to go around again, and shortly after becoming airborne made a climbing right-hand turn from 100 feet on to course.
The pilot of the Auster displayed a serious lack of airport discipline resulting in other aircraft being placed in a hazardous position. The pilot has been severely reprimanded for his carelessness in failing to keep a proper look out.
............................................................ .............................................
An Auster crashed into Vanimo Harbour shortly after take-off from Vanimo airstrip New Guinea. The pilot was killed and the two passengers received minor injuries. The probable cause of the accident was incorrect technique on the part of the pilot in effecting recovery from an inadvertent stall. The stall probably resulted from a lack of care on the part of the pilot in the execution of a steep turn at a low altitude without the assistance of an airspeed indicator and tachometer.
Violations. The evidence indicates that the pilot committed breaches of the following Air Navigation Regulations:-
Regulation 239. Banked the aircraft at an altitude below 500 feet above terrain after take-off.
Regulation 225 (A) Operated the aircraft with an unserviceable airspeed indicator and tachometer.
Regulation 227. Took off at an all-up-weight which exceeded the maximum permitted for Auster operations at Vanimo airstrip.
Regulation 38. Operated an aircraft without a current Certificate of Safety.
Regulation 244. Carried a passenger who was not provided with, and consequently did not wear, any form of safety belt during the take-off.
............................................................ .....................................
As Norseman aircraft was levelling out to land on Vanimo Airstrip, the port wheel struck a stump just short of the airstrip and on subsequent touchdown, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. It was concluded that the cause of the accident was poor technique on the part of the pilot in that he landed short of the airstrip and damaged the port landing wheel in such a manner as to subsequently cause the aircraft to overturn.
............................................................ ....................
This writer has no problem with ATSB commending a pilot for superb flying skill in a serious situation. But not where everyone gets lots of kudos and hand claps like kindergarten kids simply for using SOP's.