Brian Knauss DPE Checkride Gouges
Designated Pilot Examiner
Preparing for an FAA checkride with Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Brian Knauss? GougeHub has 2 first-hand Brian Knauss checkride gouge reports from pilots who tested. Review oral exam questions, flight test patterns, and examiner insights for IFR and PPL checkrides.
↓ View 2 available gouge reportsTwo reports are on file for Brian Knauss, one from a private pilot applicant and one from an instrument applicant. Both flew with him and both describe a similar style built around a scenario. About a week before the PPL ride, Brian sent the applicant his scenario and expectations along with a simple one page intake form. The scenario was in depth on purpose, since he uses it to cover as much of the ACS as possible through conversation.
The oral flows from that scenario rather than a random list of questions. The instrument applicant got a setup about flying to El Paso with two passengers and 30 pounds of bags, then had to work out if the flight was legal. That leads straight into weight and balance, so know how he wants weight and balance figured. One tip from that applicant: give Brian a reason to check boxes off by explaining your thought process clearly.
He holds you to the ACS on the topics that matter for safety. The instrument applicant took an unsat on the initial oral over holding, and admitted it was preventable. Brian gave him several chances to reach the correct answer before ending the ride. He did not charge for the recheck and got him back within the same week after a weather cancellation. The recheck took 46 seconds.
Expect a check of your documents and endorsements up front. Both applicants said Brian was prompt and kept the mood calm. Before flying, he explained the process, the FAA requirements, and the possible outcomes, then took questions. He said plainly that he is not looking for a perfect ride, and that his top concerns are safety and good ADM.
His instrument fee was $1,500. The PPL ride was flown in an SR22T at KSDL. If you know your material, both applicants found him fair.
Analyzed across 113 site-wide Private Pilot checkrides in the GougeHub database, the same questions keep coming up. Here’s one of the 37 in the guide:
“What privileges and limitations do you have as a newly certificated private pilot?”
📋 Examiner Insight: A near-guaranteed question — examiners want to know you understand the limits of your certificate and won’t go offering rides for hire. Know it cold.
All 37 questions, ranked by frequency, with Examiner Insights and Common Pitfalls from 113 real checkrides — written and reviewed by Andrew Gray, CFI-II.
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Ratings & Checkride Types
- IFR (Instrument Rating)
- PPL (Private Pilot)
Other DPEs in Arizona
Transparency Disclaimer: This page summarizes patterns reported by applicants. It is not an endorsement, prediction, or guarantee of checkride outcome. Every checkride varies based on the applicant and circumstances.