Airline Pilot Forums

I've asked this question many times, but I remain unsure what the real answer is. I was involved in an accident while acting as a CFI seven and a half years ago. After five years, my name was taken off the report as is SOP. When I sent away to the accident/incident database recently, the report stated there were no accidents or incidents associated with my number.

I have listed and will continue to list on all applications I was involved in an accident. I'm not asking whether I should or shouldn't. I'm asking how an airline would find out if I chose not to mention it? I know people have said they can find out, but from what source? Where? I've googled my name and there is nothing. An airline is not going to find out through the database since this accident rolled off my record three years ago.

So if they will find out, from what sources will they discover this if they never had a reason to suspect?

Again, just to be clear, I'm asking this only because it intrigues me. I'm not looking for a way to skirt the truth or act dishonestly.

You might be in the clear, but it's possible that a FOIA request might turn up additional data from FAA/NTSB files (I don't know if the shred/delete original copies of expunged records, or just move them to an archive which the public can't access). Some airline have been known to do FOIA requests.

Also it could come up via a reference check, possibly by googling a news article (your name + "airplane"), or just plain bad luck (the hiring manager does GA at the field where it happened and remembers the event or something like that).

Those are low-probability risks though. Since it was that long ago and if you have a good record since, most (but maybe not all) employers would consider it a learning experience and not hold it against you.