Stephen Michael Graham DPE Checkride Gouges

Examiner Style

Graham is consistently described as personable and professional — the kind of examiner who genuinely wants you to pass. He creates a comfortable atmosphere that helps with nerves, but he's still paying close attention. If you answer questions quickly, confidently, and accurately, he moves on without probing further. He respects preparation and rewards organization; pilots who brought well-structured binders and had materials ready from the start reported smoother, faster orals. He's not trying to trick you — but he expects competence.

What to Expect

Broad areas of emphasis across his checkrides include:

• Scenario-based legality questions — think compensation, operational control, and common-purpose rules
• Solid weather knowledge, including chart interpretation and briefing fluency
• Inoperative equipment decision-making processes rather than rote memorization
• Strong emphasis on knowing how to find answers over having everything memorized — ForeFlight proficiency matters

In the aircraft, procedural discipline is non-negotiable. He expects checklist usage throughout every phase of flight.

What Surprised Pilots

Multiple reports note that Graham has failed applicants for skipping checklists during phases that feel routine — like taxi and landing. Pilots also noted that a perfect written score changed the dynamic of the oral, with certain topics being bypassed entirely. Come organized and don't cut corners on the "easy" stuff.