Flight Crew Errors in Challenging and Stressful Situations

Emergencies and other threatening situations challenge the cognitive capabilities of even the most skilled performers. While the effects of acute stress on cognition and performance have been examined in diverse laboratory studies, few studies have focused on skilled performers. We analyzed 12 airline accidents to determine the types of errors arising in situations that are highly challenging and probably stressful. We identified 212 flight crew errors from accident investigation reports; these errors were grouped into eight higher-level error categories. Cognitive factors contributing to vulnerability to these errors were identified and related to theoretical models of stress. Finally, we suggest specific ways to guard against stress-related errors by enhancing training, operating procedures, and cockpit interfaces.