Tom Guthrie DPE Checkride Gouges
Designated Pilot Examiner
Preparing for an FAA checkride with Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Tom Guthrie? GougeHub has a first-hand Tom Guthrie checkride gouge report from a pilot who tested. Read oral exam questions, flight test patterns, and examiner insights.
↓ View 1 available gouge reportAs of this writing, a single commercial checkride report covers Tom Guthrie. The pilot described an oral with deep-dives, then a full practical sequence in the airplane. If you fly with Tom next, plan for both halves to be substantial. The report shows an examiner who wants real understanding, not memorized lines.
The oral went into topics in detail rather than skimming. The pilot called them deep-dives, so prepare to explain your reasoning, not just recite an answer. Know your material well enough to walk through it step by step. Surface-level study will not hold up under that kind of questioning.
The flight portion ran as a full practical sequence. The standout detail from the report is real diversion scenarios. Tom puts you in situations where you have to divert and work the problem in the moment. Be ready to pick a new destination, plan it quickly, and fly it cleanly.
For diversion work, practice your heading, distance, and time estimates without leaning on the panel alone. Know your fuel burn and how to recompute it when plans change. Stay ahead of the airplane while you reroute. The report frames this as a real test of in-flight decision making, so treat it that way during your prep.
This is one applicant's account, so use it as a starting point rather than the whole picture. The themes are clear: a detailed oral and a practical sequence built around diversions. Study deep, fly precisely, and be ready to change the plan on short notice. If you take a checkride with Tom, add your own report so the next pilot knows more.
Examiner Patterns
Preliminary insight — based on 1 report
- Weight & Balance: 1 pilot reported the examiner worked through a W&B scenario with the applicant
- Oral style: 1 pilot reported the examiner mixed recall and scenario questions
- 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 an engine failure
- Preflight briefing: 1 pilot reported the examiner gave a brief overview before flight
Based on self-reported pilot submissions. Data methodology
Ratings & Checkride Types
- CPL (Commercial 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.