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An aeroplane has disappeared during flight and is now missing. This would be classified as an...
  • A
    incident
  • B
    serious incident
  • C
    accident
  • D
    offence

Refer to figure.
Learning Objective 010.13.01.01.03: Determine whether a certain occurrence has to be defined as a serious incident or as an accident.

EU Regulation no. 996/2010 - Definitions
(1) ‘accident’ means an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which, in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which:

(a) a person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of:

  • being in the aircraft, or,
  • direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft, or,
  • direct exposure to jet blast,

except when the injuries are from natural causes, self inflicted or inflicted by other persons, or when the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew; or

(b) the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which

  • adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and
  • would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component,
except for engine failure or damage, when the damage is limited to a single engine, (including its cowlings or accessories), to propellers, wing tips, antennas, probes, vanes, tires, brakes, wheels, fairings, panels, landing gear doors, windscreens, the aircraft skin (such as small dents or puncture holes) or minor damages to main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, landing gear, and those resulting from hail or bird strike, (including holes in the radome); or

(c) the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible;

Occurrences are mostly split into three categories:
  • accidents - The most dangerous type, explained above.
  • incidents - "An occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft which affects or could affect the safety of operation". This is quite vague, and encompasses a lot of different occurrences
  • Serious Incidents - "An incident involving circumstances indicating that there was a high probability of an accident and is associated with the operation of an aircraft". So effectively a bad incident that is not quite considered an accident.

In this question, the aircraft is completely lost, so it easily fits into the category of accident.

Note: There are two different learning objectives that cover this, one about ICAO annex 13, and the other referring to EU Regulation No.996/2010, but as both have the same definition of an accident, it does not matter. An image of the definition from ICAO Annex 13 is attached above.

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