Just a couple of things...

Not being very specific here...but it does not seem to get us anywhere to say "pilot error" was the leading cause of any accident(again...not saying any of you guys are saying that...just speaking in general). While there is nothing wrong at all, with mentioning that a pilot made this mistake and this mistake during this stage of flight...etc.(those things do need to be pointed out) However, when the final cause of accident is listed as "pilot error," that seems to be an easy way out of bringing closure and resolve to an accident/incident.

There is almost always something systematically wrong, that when changed, can have a better chance of preventing accidents, as opposed to labeling everything "pilot error." To give a completely fictional example, take the Comair accident in Lexington. Yes we known the pilots made mistakes that caused the lives of so many people, but why can we now change things such, making sure all airport runways must have operational night lighting or else the runway is closed (blocked off) during night hours?(Subject to temporary exemptions for single strip airports etc...) That is not a great example i understand, try not to analyze it, in that i am being very general.

I'm sure the answer to that question is money...understandable...but at that point we are placing a price on aviation safety. That will never change of course, but how about we add to the conclusion of some reports...."Due to insufficient funds...the airport/airline/airplane/training/(fill in blank) were not able to provide the most advanced safety measures aimed at preventing accident XYZ." Or..."due to scheduling restraints and current regulations[FAA] outlining flight crew scheduling and duty/rest times, the airline was allowed to schedule crew members into potentially over fatiguing circumstances, and will continue to do so on a regular basis." It still does not mean anything will get done for certain, but at least it gets that into the publics head. Seems all they ever read/hear about on the news is pilot error.

This brings me to my second point...the NTSB will list their findings and make their recommendations, which many times are spot-on, to give them some credit, but the FAA has to actually act on them. Many times that does not happen, and for many reasons; such as money, feasibility, etc..