Bob McKellar wrote:
What type of "OOPS" could cause loss of wings?

I think my newsserver may have missed one of the posts in this
thread, but I should clarify that a FNAEB does always have to result
in the loss of one's wings, although it is usually a strong
possibility. Occasionally the subject of the board is exonerated.

Another thing, it is pretty much the worst thing that can happen to
an aviator's career.

I've also seen a couple of these boards for much lesser things
(examples- generally poor performance in the cockpit, and a very
minor mishap where a pilot was partly to blame).

As others have eluded to already, sometimes politics, uh,
"discretion" may be occasionally involved in the process.