Let me add this. The Cessna 177 series was a move by Cessna to combine several high performance features but as usual with a small engine. The wings had a feature where the thickest part is well aft in the airfoil (about 1/2). This feature was made famous by the P-51. Faster cruise and better speed with less power . . . But, it will fly at less speed if you continue to raise the nose resulting in a condition where only a lot of power will get you flying again and a wing stall will take LOTS of altitude to recover.

Then they installed a flying Elevator, a one piece elevator that (supposedly) gives better response but can be stalled if pulled back suddenly or too much, resulting in sudden nose drop.

Lastly they built the aircraft with a 150 hp, then 180, then maybe more, each trying to make the aircraft safe.

I contend their choice of this aircraft model and flying out of a fairly high airport led to a crash that would have been difficult to avoid no matter who the pilot. And that she was merely a passenger in the pilot’s seat.