Cognitive Functions and Performance shaping in accident or incident.pdf

Cognitive Functions and Performance Shaping Factors in Aviation Accidents and Incidents David O’Hare Department of Psychology University of Otago Is the difference between an accident and an incident merely a matter of luck, or are there significant differences in terms of flight crew performance and associated per- formance shaping factors (PSFs)? This study obtained self-report data from a sample of 1,144 New Zealand pilots. There were differences between accident- and inci- dent-involved pilots in terms of age, flight experience, and involvement in hazardous events. Incidents were more likely to be attributed to failures to detect or diagnose in- formation, whereas accidents were more likely to be attributed to failures to choose an appropriate goal or strategy. There was no difference in the quantity of PSFs associ- ated with accidents and incidents. These self-report data are consistent with previous findings based on external coding of air accident reports. Flight crew play a pivotal role in aviation safety. As the first to arrive at the scene of an accident, their actions can be pivotal in avoiding accidents as well as being the natural focus of attention when events fail to turn out as planned. The detailed empirical analysis of breakdowns in flight crew performance began with Fitts and Jones’s (1947a) analyses of pilot experiences with display read- ings. Using self-report data, Fitts and Jones were able to classify these display problems into nine main groups. A similar analysis of difficulties with operating controls (Fitts Jones, 1947b) produced six categories of errors. The major preoccupation has naturally been with analyses of flight crew actions in accidents. Tabulations of suggested causal or contributory factors are often pro- vided by regulatory bodies such as the National Transportation Safety Board. More detailed analyses have been undertaken by human factors researchers (e.g., Gerbert Kemmler, 1986; Jensen Benel, 1977; Jensen Chappell, 1983