Paul Seiter DPE Checkride Gouges
Designated Pilot Examiner
Preparing for an FAA checkride with Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Paul Seiter? GougeHub has a first-hand Paul Seiter checkride gouge report from a pilot who tested. Read oral exam questions, flight test patterns, and examiner insights.
↓ View 1 available gouge reportThe oral with Paul Seiter starts in the maintenance binder. The pilot reported that he wanted the annual inspection pointed out, with the date checked against the requirement. He looked for the altimeter, pitot static, and transponder inspections logged and current. He asked about the ELT inspection and the requirements behind it. He also walked through the airworthiness directives, including recurring AD's and whether you can fly past the tach time for the next inspection.
He pressed on the 100 hour inspection rule and asked the pilot to find them in the logs. The conversation moved to the Minimum Equipment List and how it differs from the Equipment List in the C172 POH. He asked whether you would fly with the flaps stuck in the up position. He posed scenarios about a buddy asking you to fly a new tail dragger, a retractable gear plane, a high performance plane, and a twin.
Weather and planning carried a heavy load. He asked how the pilot got weather and whether a briefing is legally required for a cross country. They reviewed the ForeFlight brief together, covering TFR's and the different types of AIRMET. He raised a freezing level at 5,000 feet with clear skies and asked if you should fly. He brought up mountain obscuration, mountain clearance, carb ice, and leaning procedure.
The brief also held a convective SIGMET, and he asked what it was and whether it should concern you. He had the pilot decode a METAR and discuss TAF's. He asked for the legal definition of VFR. When KMYF dropped to MVFR, he asked how that changed the plan.
As of this writing, only one report sits on file for Paul Seiter. It covers a PPL checkride and leans hard on documents and weather. Add yours if you fly with him next.
Examiner Patterns
Preliminary insight — based on 1 report
- Oral style: 1 pilot reported the examiner used scenario-based questioning throughout
- Navigation tools: 1 pilot reported the examiner accepted ForeFlight for weather only
- Logbook review: 1 pilot reported the examiner reviewed endorsements specifically
- Density altitude: 1 pilot reported the examiner did not cover density altitude
- Go/no-go discussion: 1 pilot reported the examiner discussed go/no-go as part of a scenario
- Equipment failure simulated: 1 pilot reported the examiner simulated another type of equipment failure
- Preflight briefing: 1 pilot reported the examiner gave a full preflight briefing
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 documents must you have on your person to act as pilot in command?”
📋 Examiner Insight: A guaranteed question — know it cold.
⚠ Common Pitfall: While not required on your person, your logbook should be available to demonstrate recent experience and currency if questioned. Not all forms of ID are acceptable — reference 61.3 for the acceptable forms.
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
- PPL (Private Pilot)
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.