Human Performance and Systems Safety Considerations in Aviation Mishaps

This article provides an overview of (a) accident generation, (b) the ensuing investigation process, and (c) the types of prevention measures that will be employed to ultimately decrease the probability of similar mishaps. The stages of the accident generation process include ubiquitous hazards which lead to occasional incidents that in turn result in less frequent accidents. Steps in the investigation process included fact finding, information analysis, and authority review. The use of comparison data sources and mishap data bases are important collateral-investigation activities. The basic classes of accident-prevention measures included environmental-hazard exposure limitations, equipment safety features and/or warning device, and establishing procedural safeguards. Human factors problems are associated with 50% to 90% of all accidents, whereas system safety principles provide the logical framework for deciding which type of countermeasures to apply in ameliorating such problems. This article describes...