ABSTRACT
The actions of individuals in accidents often appear irrational leading to a tendency among investigators to attribute the cause of an accident to human error. Analysis of the context in which the accident occurs reveals that individuals are often faced with conflicting accountabilities, can be seen as a rational attempt to meet these obligations. Two near programme for our analysis. These reports have a number of characteristics in common: tension between different sets of accountabilities, pressure on the pilot to make an immediate decision, and the pilot’s sole responsibility for that decision. It is concluded that a proactive approach to accident reduction must appreciate the systemic link between organisational policies and operator’s behaviour.
