It was not so much a riddle. Morse code can be written with several interpretations depending on the receivers ear and Harmer, the radio op sending the QTH (position report) for that flight could not have had machine perfect morse code as he was being bounced around in the ever present turbulence crossing the Andes, a trip I used to fly in a 747.400 about once every two months. His crew were inbound to Santiago de Chile and they would not even have needed to start the descent at that time becuse of the MSA (Safety Altitude) in that area.
What his crew actually did is now called CFIT. Controlled Fight Into Terrain. The last QTH that was sent seemingly had the strange word STENDEC as part of the transmission. I think it was just an inadvertent transmission with a bag falling onto the morse key or some such thing.
I know from my experience as a radio Op in the 60's - in turbulence I used to increase the spring poundage on my key and on flat calm days, I even used a speed key.
Much more interesting than the salvation being offered in other posts on this stupid thread. I wish he would take the hint and piss off.
