Seems more like he didn’t reset his altimeter for local barometric pressure. At and above 18,000 feet, altimeter are universally set to 29.92. Then when decending for the approach to land, the altimeter is set to the actual local pressure. High to low, look out below.....Not setting for the local pressure can find you are hundreds of feet off. An instrument approach with a 600’ Minimum descent requirement could find you plowing dirt in a fireball.
You are correct but I wonder how much time and approaches this pilot had in real IFR conditions though he was rated for IFR?
I have flown into Montgomery on an IFR flight plan though it was VFR. IFR is safer as you have positive control from the ground. I would have never attempted to fly into Montgomery at night with the runway lights out. I suspect the pilot did not check the NOTAMS, "notice to airmen." Without doubt he busted minimums and did not execute a go around when he hit minimums. I suspect he was thinking," just 50 more feet and I will see the approach lights. He would have been on the ILS (instrument landing system) and sure of where he was but he was not. The pertinent question is why he did not know?