Plain English Meaning

A situation where the airplane is no longer doing what the pilot is asking it to do, and the pilot is struggling — or failing — to get it back under control.

Full Definition

A Loss of Control (LOC) scenario is an in-flight situation in which the pilot is unable to maintain or regain control of the aircraft's intended flight path. It typically involves a departure from controlled flight caused by stalls, spins, spatial disorientation, distraction, mismanaged , or improper , and is the leading cause of fatal accidents.