PA.IV.K.R6FAA-S-ACS-6C · Nov 2023Risk management
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Bottom line
A contributing factor in many accidents is a distraction that diverts the pilot's attention from monitoring the instruments or scanning outside the aircraft. When a pilot becomes task saturated, there is no awareness of input from various sources, so decisions may be made on incomplete information and the possibility of error increases. When a work overload situation exists, a pilot needs to stop, think, slow down, and prioritize.
FAA references
- AFH ch. 5, Human Factors (pp. 5-2–5-3) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- PHAK ch. 2 (p. 2-22) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- PHAK ch. 2 (p. 2-24) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- SEA ch. 4 (p. 4-16) — FAA-H-8083-23
- AFH ch. 2 (p. 2-14) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- RMH ch. 6 (p. 6-4) — FAA-H-8083-2A
- AIM 7-6-14 (Flying in Flat Light, Brown Out Conditions, and White Out Conditions) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
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