A System-Based Investigation of Human Error: The Influence of Latent Performance Shaping Factors in Military Aviation Maintenance

Human error remains a persistent challenge in military aviation maintenance, driven by latent Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs) rooted in organizational, task, and environmental conditions. This study integrates the Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method with Rasmussen’s Skill–Rule–Knowledge framework to model PSFs’ influence on human error using structural equation modeling (SEM). Survey data from 278 military maintenance personnel were validated for reliability (α > 0.70) and measurement rigor (CR > 0.83, AVE > 0.50, HTMT <0.85). The structural model demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.022, TLI = 0.992) and explained 48% of the variance in human error. Results showed task-related PSFs exerted the strongest effect, followed by organizational and environmental factors. These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of error causation in mission-critical contexts and emphasize the need for systemic interventions that address multiple PSFs simultaneously. By quantifying these latent structures, this study advances predictive human reliability modeling in military aviation and offers a foundation for designing proactive, PSF-targeted safety strategies to enhance maintenance reliability and operational readiness.