DENpilot

Long story short, I was involved in an aircraft incident the other night. I was the sole occupant of the aircraft. It was purely mechanical failure of the aircraft. I was EXTREMELY lucky and it was a miracle I did not crash. I landed the airplane on the runway with no damage to the airplane or injury to myself.

However, due to the severity of the failure, the FAA and NTSB have launched an investigation and the NTSB plans to do an incident report.

I have heard somewhere on here, that airlines like AE, automatically disqualify your airlineapps app if you check that you have been involved in an aircraft accident, incident, or investigation. I want to be honest, but I don't want my app overlooked for something that I couldn't avoid. I feel that that specific question is directed towards pilots that were negligent in some way. If anything, my experience and training saved my butt and I would think a situation like this would actually HELP me get hired somewhere.

Can anyone shed some light on this or offer advice?

Bert Sampson

I'm in the same boat as you, except my accident was entirely my fault and happened five years ago. Unfortunately I think that you are correct about Eagle, as they were the only ones that sent me a "Thanks but no thanks" email--and this was during the Great Regional Hiring Boom of 2007. I personally wouldn't falsify any application, an accident is an accident.

The good news, however, is that I received six "Come interview with us!" emails. I turned a giant negative into a giant positive and the only thing I heard about it at my first and only interview was "It sounds like you learned your lesson, welcome aboard."

PM me if you would like more info.

frmrdashtrash

ASA interviewed me with an incident on my record. Wasn't our fault though, and they did ask about the details.

minimwage4

I don't know about other places, most likely not. But at American Eagle, you're done for sure. They want a squeaky clean record, no previous managers that may bad mouth you or no anything even if it wasn't your fault or warranted. One dude here checked the wrong box on the app which automatically disqualified his application and they wouldn't even help him out. They just don't care.

HighSpeedTaxi5

Speaking from experience, do a NASA report, do a FOIA (freedom of information act request for transcripts with ATC if any and if you have AOPA legal coverage for your Commerical certificate or ATP give them a call and get some Legal advise. Keep copies of any statements you make, but speak to AOPA first. Don't panic nor jump to any conclusions as what may or may not happen. Last but not least don't ever lie or "mistakenly" leave any information off an application. Good luck to you. God Bless.

Phuz

That must be how you attract quality candidates such as Tim Martins

On Autopilot

First off, were you naked??? Why do I ask? No reason, but from what you describe, if it's the a/c failure and no actions on your part that contributed to it, most places understand that. You should be golden. If eagle takes a pass on you hey, they are not the only place hiring right now. All the best!

Photon

If this is off-topic, delete this post. However, question:

What's the reasoning behind leaving out anyone with an incident/accident record? Is it for insurance purposes? Or just lazy people not wanting to weed out the "good" accident/incident applicants from the "bad" ones?

xj200capt

I have to agree with this statement. I don't know all the details but incidents are not always bad. Mech fail, used your PIC authority to handle the situation with no damage or injuries. Again I don't know all the details but it sounds like you did things right. CONGRATs.

Now I blew my career with a gear up. Took 7 years to get a job after and now I'm too old to leave the regionals.

Would have handled the situation differently? What did you learn? What were you thinking?

You have the answers for these questions, write them down. Practice them. In my interview they asked me about the issue, I told them, said I blew the dog, wish I hadn't done it but I learned...that part of my interview lasted less than 2 minutes and it was over.
My age was the issue but I got the job.

Be proud hold your head up you are what airlines want.

jelloy683

I had a question...I had a "letter of warning" 3 years ago, I just checked my record with the FAA, and it's expunged completely, and is no longer with me (expires after two years). Do I still have to disclose it, even though it's not on my record. I don't want HR to pass up on me because of something that's not even on my record.