The number was larger than 32,768, the largest integer storeable in a 16 bit signed integer, and thus the conversion failed.
The largest 16-bit signed integer is actually 32767... although it probably would not have mattered in that case, it's a little ironic to find an off-by-one error on a page about numerical errors.
The largest 16-bit signed integer is actually 32767... although it probably would not have mattered in that case, it's a little ironic to find an off-by-one error on a page about numerical errors.
One event that comes to mind, not really a disaster, but a rather costly mistake caused by units confusion, is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider