Plain English Meaning

There are two types of mistakes a student can make: doing the wrong thing by accident when they knew better, or doing the wrong thing on purpose because they thought it was right. Each type needs to be fixed in a different way.

Full Definition

A framework used in aviation instruction that classifies learner mistakes into two broad categories: slips and mistakes. A slip is an error of action — the learner knows what to do but does the wrong thing (for example, reaching for the throttle and grabbing the mixture). A mistake is an error of thought — the learner does what they intended, but the intention itself was wrong (for example, deliberately holding altitude when a descent was required). Recognizing which kind of error occurred determines how the instructor should respond and how the learner should correct it.

Context Anchor

Seen in instructor training, flight lesson debriefs, and discussions about how to correct student .