I remember reading the story in "How to Win Friends and Influence People". The plane was filled with jet fuel and had to do an emergency landing, but the pilot was able to save everyone. When he got back he told the mechanic that he wanted him to fill his plane the next day because he knew that he'd never make the same mistake again.

If the pilot can forgive someone for a mistake that almost cost lives, I'm sure any good interviewer can forgive him for a mistake that cost data and will probably never be repeated.