You know, people do just **** up. Even super special sf aircrew screw up just as often as everybody else because they are doing things closer to the limits than everybody else.
Chances are it was a combination of the possibilities, mixed with a bit of miscalculation and nerves thrown in. Doesn't matter how many sf missions you have done, invading a sovereign country to take down public enemy no1 and become famous (within the comunity) is goiing to cause some jitters.