Analysis of factors contributing to 460 pilot-error experiences in operating aircraft controls
Paul Fitts and R. E. Jones analysed 460 pilot-error experiences in operating aircraft controls, sorting them into types including using the wrong control, moving a control to the wrong position, forgetting, operating a control in the wrong direction, unintentional activation and being unable to reach a control. Later summaries present the report as showing that many such errors came from cockpit design. The original report was not read.
Paul Fitts and R. E. Jones analysed 460 pilot-error experiences in operating aircraft controls, sorting them into types including using the wrong control, moving a control to the wrong position, forgetting, operating a control in the wrong direction, unintentional activation and being unable to reach a control. Later summaries present the report as showing that many such errors came from cockpit design. The original report was not read.
Written from the secondary summary in US Department of Transportation report DOT/FRA/ORD-07/10, read 2026-10-11.
What our sources record
Reproduced as it was written when this source was checked, figures and all.
Memorandum report TSEAA-694-12, Aero Medical Laboratory, Air Materiel Command, Wright Field. Error categories as summarised in US DOT report DOT/FRA/ORD-07/10 (2007); the original was not read.