You are correct, poor piloting killed everyone.
Expect to see more of this as years past. We now have “digital aircraft operators” not pilots. They have little ability to operate the aircraft manually. Take all the instrument panel toys and eye candy away from them and they might as well kiss their ass good bye if in true IMC conditions.
Some of the problem is in the new mindset of the aircraft engineers, but most of the problem is the pilots refusing to remain proficient in rudimentary flight skills.
That aircraft can safely fly with no airspeed indicators with nothing more than the attitude indicator and the engine power controls. It is right there in the aircraft ops manual, and has been used several times in the past in similar situations by experienced and well trained pilots.
My wife is a retired airline captain, former small plane pilot and aerobatic pilot. That girl could fly. The amazing thing I found was that the vast majority of airline pilots had never flown small planes, just the big iron.
Just what you said.
IMO too much reliance of electronic instrumentation.
Just like kids today trying to make change w/o an electronic register or calculator.
Totally lost.
AMEN!
JC