SuperF
To call it Pilot Error, certainly focuses the pilots mind, and he has a great influence on safety in this industry, calling it system failure or management failure lets it get washed over, and not hurt anyone's feelings....
The reason why "pilot error" is not used as a catch all reason for an accident in the UK is to get to the bottom of the reasons for the accident.
Yes sometimes the reason is pilot error and it won't be washed over but as you must know there are nearly always other reasons for the accident - they may be minor but we can all learn from them.
Calling the accident cause as purely pilot error can let off those in the management chain who could be contributing to the accident.
An example of this is the CAA - they mandate absolute limits for flying hours over defined periods - be it day, week, month or year. This is to try and prevent fatigue. The companies however look at these MAXIMUM hours limits as targets. What does the CAA do about this - nothing. Does it audit and look closely at which companies always fly their crews to 95%+ of the maximum - I doubt it. Why do the companies fly their crews to the maximum - money - profit!! Could this lead to accidents - maybe - will the CAA be criticised? I doubt it but they are in the chain!!
The examples you chose could be pure pilot error.
but the guy that made the error at the end of the day, put the machine in the drink, into the hill, or upside down in the trees.
Could also have a strong management cause. For instance if the guy who put the a/c into the hill or upside down into the trees was an EMS pilot on a day VFR contract who didn't have an IR yet felt pressured by the company to get the job done. If he gave in to those pressures, then yes he was at fault for flying in weather not suitable for his qualifications, but if he feared for his job because the management expected him to get the job done then management has to accept a fair amount of blame for the accident.
The Swiss Cheese theory is nearly always present in every accident.
HF
As DB said I didn't mean to isolate the US - it was just a comment that if the US tries to blame pilots rather than look at the whole picture then that is wrong - the UK has moved away from that but if the pilot was to blame then it will come out in the investigation.