Elliot Crawford DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

The CFI checkride with Elliot is scenario-driven from the start. He sends a detailed scenario one week before the exam that sets the stage for the entire oral and ties multiple ACS areas together. Reported topics include:

• Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI): Discussed in the context of the endorsement scenario — expect to explain how you'd work with a specific type of student (e.g., an eager young pilot transitioning from another certificate/category).
• Endorsements and Eligibility: The scenario involved determining the correct endorsements and training requirements for a pilot with an existing certificate (Private Glider) seeking additional privileges. Be ready to walk through the regulatory logic.
• IACRA and Paperwork: He checks that you understand the administrative side of being a CFI — IACRA processing, 8710 familiarity, and proper documentation.
• Aircraft Airworthiness: He wants to review aircraft logbooks before the checkride day. You'll need to send photos of recent inspections and AD compliance. Be prepared to discuss how you'd verify airworthiness as a CFI.

Common Questions

Rather than firing off rapid knowledge questions, Elliot builds his questions around the scenario he assigned. Pilots reported being asked to think through instructor decisions — how would you train this particular student, what endorsements apply, and what regulatory requirements govern the situation. The questioning style is conversational and contextual, not rote quiz-style. Be ready to explain your reasoning, not just recite answers.

Practical Focus

• Maneuver Lesson Plan: Elliot assigned a specific maneuver to prepare a lesson plan for — in this case, Slow Flight. Come ready to actually teach it, not just demonstrate it. He's evaluating your ability to instruct, not just fly.
• The flight was conducted in a Piper Archer out of KFNL (Northern Colorado Regional Airport).
• Specific details on other flight maneuvers were not reported, but the emphasis is clearly on your teaching ability during flight tasks.

Examiner Style

Elliot is professional, approachable, and clear about expectations. Pilots described a well-organized process:

• He explicitly states up front that this is a teaching checkride — he's evaluating your ability to instruct, not just testing your personal knowledge and stick-and-rudder skills.
• The pre-checkride communication is thorough. You'll get your scenario a week ahead of time with clear instructions on what to bring (logbook, pilot certificate, photo ID, printed 8710 backup) and what to prepare.
• Paperwork, logbook review, and fee collection took about 30 minutes before the oral began — plan for a full day.
• The checkride fee is $1,500.
• He prefers to review aircraft logbook documentation (inspections, AD compliance) before the checkride day via photos — don't wait until you show up.

What Surprised Pilots

• The week-ahead scenario is a big deal — it essentially frames the entire oral portion. Pilots noted that if you prepare the scenario thoroughly, you'll feel much more grounded during the discussion. Don't treat it as optional reading.
• The emphasis on teaching over personal performance stood out. Elliot made it clear that demonstrating CFI-level knowledge alone isn't enough — he wants to see that you can actually instruct a student through a concept or maneuver.
• The endorsement scenario was more nuanced than expected — involving a pilot with an existing glider certificate — so brush up on the less common endorsement and eligibility situations, not just the standard Private-to-Instrument path.