Definition
Mistakes that occur when a pilot does take an action, but the action taken is wrong — for example, selecting the wrong switch, reading the wrong instrument, or applying an incorrect procedure. Contrasted with errors of omission, which involve failing to act at all.
Plain English
Doing something — but doing the wrong thing. The pilot acts, but the action itself is incorrect.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of maintaining an accurate picture of what is happening during flight, especially when reviewing why a pilot made an unsafe control, checklist, radio, or navigation action.
Derivation
From the Latin committere, meaning 'to do' or 'to bring about.' An error of commission is an error caused by something the pilot did, as opposed to something they failed to do.
Why Pilots Care
These errors can immediately erode situational awareness and lead to unsafe flight conditions or incidents.
Grounding Statement
A pilot reaches for a switch, moves the wrong one, and now has a new problem caused by the action itself.
Intuition Check
Do not read “commission” here as a payment or an official authority. In this context, commission means doing an action; an error of commission is a mistake caused by the action taken.
Example Sentence 1
Setting the altimeter to the wrong pressure setting before takeoff is an error of commission, because the pilot acted but acted incorrectly.
Example Sentence 2
Recognizing errors of commission early helps maintain situational awareness in changing flight conditions.