Sure, a fall could separate you from your pack. You might drop it if menaced by a bear. Certainly when traveling by boat it's easy to envision the scenario.

I guess a simple one would be leaving camp to "use the facilities". Especially at night it's easy to get lost. But I only walked 50 feet! you say. Just backtrack. Except it's dark and you walked the wrong direction. And since you're sure you're close you keep walking...and walking...and walking.

Of course, we're all too smart for that.