Although Brian had figured out how to make fire by the time the search plane flew by (after seeing sparks in the dark when the hatchet struck the shelter wall), he did not have the signal fire ready. When he first heard the sound of the plane, the fire was not big enough. He tried to generate enough smoke to be seen, but the plane flew on by. Brian realized that there was not likely to be another, as he was so far off the original course of the plane and became depressed.