THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS; THE APPLICATION OF THE HUMAN FACTOR ANALYSIS AND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Aviation history is replete with lessons learned from accidents. Aircraft accidents have greatly contributed to the formation ofaviation laws. Analysis conducted after accidents are the first steps taken for the prevention of further accidents. Accident analysesare carried out by the countries' accident investigation board where the accident happened or the one where the airline is registered.Several models are used in the analysis of accidents. One of these models, The Human Factors Analysis and Classification Systemwas put forward by Shappell and Wiegmann after examining more than 300 accidents. This system is based on Reason's SwissCheese Model. According to The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System, the cause of accidents consists of 4 levelsof factors that affect each other. These are: organizational influences, unsafe management, preconditions for unsafe acts and unsafeacts. Although an accident may seem to be caused by unsafe acts, behind the accident there are many causes extend from themanagers to organizations. In this study, the databases of different countries' accident investigation boards were studied and theofficial accident reports of "planned and commercial" passenger flights were examined. These reports were analyzed and codedaccording to the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. As a result, the size and scope of the relationships betweenorganizational influences and unsafe acts that led to the accidents were revealed.