Definition
An action or decision by a pilot that causes, or contributes to, an accident or incident, where the pilot did not act as a reasonably prudent pilot would have under the same circumstances. It identifies the human as the source of the unsafe outcome, but does not, by itself, explain why the action or decision was made.
Plain English
When something goes wrong in flight because of what the pilot did or failed to do. The label points at the pilot, but it doesn't tell you what led them to make that choice.
Context Anchor
Seen in aeronautical decision-making, accident reports, safety discussions, and instructor debriefs after a flight.
Derivation
Pilot originally referred to a person who steers or guides a ship. Error comes from a Latin word meaning to wander or go astray. Together, the phrase points to a flight going wrong because the person guiding it made a wrong choice or missed something important.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding pilot error shows why strong decision-making habits matter for staying safe in flight.
Intuition Check
Pilot error does not mean the pilot is a bad person or a bad pilot. In FAA safety use, it means a pilot action, missed action, or decision played a part in the problem.
Example Sentence 1
The accident was attributed to pilot error after the investigation found the aircraft had been flown into known icing conditions despite a clear forecast warning.
Example Sentence 2
Good training reduces pilot error by helping pilots recognize and manage risks before they become problems.