Now apparently the inexperienced pilot screwed up. Believing he was near the airport and misreading the plane's instruments, he drifted off course and began to descend too early and the aircraft struck a mountain. It ripped off both wings and the tail section. The fuselage then slid down a glacier at an estimated speed of 220 miles per hour, traveling nearly a half mile before crashing into the ice and snow. Three crew members and nine passengers died immediately. Several more died soon afterwards due to the frigid temperatures and the severity of their injuries. Now search efforts were canceled after only eight days because officials believe the plane crashed, killing all aboard.