Cumulative Error
Also known as: Woozle Effect
Errors build on prior knowledge, which might also be in error. Belief Z might be based on Belief Y which is based on Belief X. If Belief X is wrong, that wrongness will likely make Y and Z wrong as well. Sometimes, the source of our error is buried until multiple layers.
Links
Examples
News sources often re-print each other. Source A prints Source B which has printed Source C. Unfortunately, Source C is in error, which means everything that came after it is wrong too.