The plane crash depicted in Society of the Snow was caused by a critical navigational error where the pilot misjudged the aircraft's location, leading to a premature descent into the treacherous Andes Mountains.
Understanding the Factors Behind the Crash
The tragic event involving Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 occurred due to a series of unfortunate circumstances rooted in a pilot's miscalculation. Roughly an hour into the flight, the pilot erroneously believed the aircraft had traversed the entire Andes mountain range.
The primary reasons for the crash include:
- Pilot's Navigational Error: The pilot made a significant mistake in assessing the plane's geographical coordinates, wrongly concluding that they had cleared the mountainous terrain.
- Early Descent Maneuver: Based on this incorrect assessment, and having received clearance from air traffic control, the pilot initiated a descent. Crucially, this descent began while the plane was still deep within the hazardous peaks of the Andes.
- Collision with Mountain: Unable to clear an impeding ridgeline during the ill-timed descent, the aircraft struck a mountain. The force of the impact was so severe that it immediately sheared off both wings and the tail section of the plane.
This catastrophic sequence of events led to the immediate disintegration of the aircraft's fuselage, resulting in the crash high in the remote and unforgiving Andes, and setting the stage for the extraordinary survival efforts of the passengers.
