Carl Joseph Johnson DPE Checkride Gouges
Designated Pilot Examiner
Preparing for an FAA checkride with Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Carl Joseph Johnson? GougeHub has 4 first-hand Carl Joseph Johnson checkride gouge reports from pilots who tested. Review oral exam questions, flight test patterns, and examiner insights for CFI, CPL, IFR, and PPL checkrides.
↓ View 4 available gouge reportsCarl Joseph Johnson examines across several ratings, and four reports are on file as of this writing. The common thread is depth. The examiner asks you to explain your reasoning, not just point at buttons or recite memorized lines. Come ready to show your math and back up your decisions.
On the private oral, the examiner digs into flight planning details and aircraft systems. One applicant noted that you must explain your planning math, not just describe what the avionics do. Know how you arrived at your numbers and how your systems actually work.
The instrument ride puts heavy weight on weather and partial panel. One pilot reported that lost comm procedures need to be solid and quick to recall. Study your weather sources and your partial panel flow before you show up.
The CFI checkride tests command authority as much as stick and rudder skill. One applicant said you should know Carl's teaching philosophy and expect questions on how you take charge. The commercial ride uses business scenario framing and focuses on energy management. One pilot reported that weight and balance needs to be cold for that rating.
The pattern across these four reports is clear and useful. The examiner rewards applicants who understand the why behind every answer. Be ready to explain your planning, your systems, your weather, and your weight and balance. Show command of the airplane and command of your decisions. If you walk in prepared to talk through your reasoning, you will meet the bar this examiner sets.
Examiner Patterns
Early reports (4) suggest
- Oral style: 2 of 4 applicants report the examiner kept the oral conversational
- Navigation tools: 1 of 2 applicants report the examiner accepted but did not require paper charts
- Density altitude: 1 of 2 applicants report the examiner did not cover density altitude
- Go/no-go discussion: 2 of 3 applicants report the examiner discussed go/no-go as part of a scenario
- Equipment failure simulated: 1 of 2 applicants report the examiner simulated another type of equipment failure
Based on self-reported pilot submissions. Data methodology
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 weather briefing did you get for today’s flight, and how did you get it?”
⚠ Common Pitfall: ForeFlight and other EFBs can count as a standard brief, but they must meet 91.103. See AC 91-92 for what belongs in a standard brief. ForeFlight keeps a record of your briefing for 120 days — not required, but useful to prove you were briefed if it’s ever questioned.
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
- CFI (Certified Flight Instructor)
- CPL (Commercial Pilot)
- IFR (Instrument Rating)
- PPL (Private Pilot)
FAA Designee Information
FAA Oversight Office: North Texas FSDO
Status: Active Designee
- Private Pilot Examiner: Airplane Single Engine Land, Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- Commercial & Instrument Rating Examiner: Airplane Single Engine Land, Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- ATPE: Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- Flight Instructor Examiner: Airplane Single Engine, Airplane Multi-Engine
- Flight Instructor Examiner — Instrument: Airplane Single Engine, Airplane Multi-Engine
- Flight Proficiency Examiner
- Military Competency Examiner
- Ground Instructor Examiner
- Flight Instructor Rating Examiner
- Balloon Airman Examiner
Source: FAA Designee Management System · Verify on FAA.gov →
Other DPEs in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
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.