Erebus is probably one of the best accidents that "lends itself to that kind of simplistic verdict":
** Descended below MSA without radar confirmation of position. Had that not happened, the co-ordinates would not have mattered.
** Descended below MSA using AINS to confirm position, which was not permitted. Had that not happened, the co-ordinates would not have mattered.
** Captain pretended to be VMC when he knew he wasn't. Had that not happened, the co-ordinates would not have mattered.
** Captain received contradictory information about the position of the final waypoint and did nothing to resolve the contradiction. Had that not happened, the co-ordinates would not have mattered.
** Captain levelled out at 2000 feet and saw no horizon ahead. Instead of immediately climbing out he descended a further 500 feet and continued on for nearly two minutes. (ie, Chippendale's stated cause of the accident.) Had that not occurred, the co-ordinates would not have mattered.