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Causes of the Erebus Disaster
The Erebus disaster was caused by a combination of factors, including:
* Human error: The primary cause of the crash was the misinterpretation of the aircraft's location by its pilots and crew. The crew relied heavily on visual references to navigate, but due to whiteout conditions and an error in the aircraft's navigation system, they believed that they were over the sea when in reality they were over the mountains.
* Poor decision-making: The crew made several poor decisions in the lead-up to the crash. For example, they failed to activate the aircraft's ground proximity warning system, which would have alerted them to the danger of the mountains. They also continued flying at a low altitude, despite the poor weather conditions.
* Technical problems: The accident was also caused by several technical problems, including a faulty compass and an error in the aircraft's navigation system. These problems made it difficult for the crew to navigate accurately and to avoid the mountains.
Response to the Disaster
The Erebus disaster had a profound impact on New Zealand. The country went into mourning, and a royal commission of inquiry was established to investigate the causes of the crash. The commission's report made a number of recommendations to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future, including:
* Mandatory training for pilots on the use of flight simulators that replicated the conditions in Antarctica.
* Improved navigation systems for aircraft flying in Antarctica.
* The establishment of a more comprehensive ground search and rescue system in Antarctica.
The Erebus disaster remains a tragic reminder of the dangers of flying in Antarctica. The recommendations made by the royal commission of inquiry have helped to improve safety, but the risk of accidents remains high.