This paper describes a human factors (HF) study of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) accidents. This study is significant because it contributes to understanding the complex human-machine environment. This study utilized the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) to classify the kinds of human factors errors involved in a particular subset of UAS accidents. The study researcher presented four UAS accident reports to a group of diversely experienced pilots. Each of these four accidents involved the same make and similar models of UAS. These UAS models are acutely prone to human-machine interactive failures because their designs are distinctly different than are normally present in human-occupied aircraft The researcher then subjected the HFACS analyses results to a safety risk analysis involving several qualitative analytical methods. The study results showed that 8 of the 19 (42%) HFACS categories overwhelmingly contributed to 77% of the total risk in the aggregate of the four UAS accidents under study, while another 6 of the 19 (32%) HFACS categories contributed to less than 5% of the total risk.
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