pilot checkride horror stories

Nerves are a common element. Pilots often get so nervous that they make silly mistakes they wouldn't normally make. For example, forgetting simple radio calls or not setting the flaps correctly.

I heard of a pilot whose examiner was really tough. Right at the start of the checkride, the examiner started asking very difficult and off - the - wall questions. The pilot became so nervous that he stuttered through his answers. During the flight part, he misjudged a turn and flew outside the assigned airspace for a short while. It was a total nightmare for him.

One horror story is when a student was so nervous during the DPE checkride that they completely blanked on the pre - takeoff checklist. They forgot to set the flaps correctly, and only realized it after starting the takeoff roll. The DPE immediately stopped the checkride. Another time, a candidate had major issues with navigation. They got lost en - route and couldn't figure out how to get back on track. The stress just made it worse and they failed the checkride miserably.

In DPE checkride horror stories, navigation errors are quite common. Pilots may get lost or misinterpret the flight plan. Also, issues with handling emergencies are prevalent. For example, if there is a mechanical problem or sudden change in weather, some pilots panic and don't follow proper procedures. And of course, landings can be a big problem. Rough or off - center landings can easily lead to a failed checkride.

One horror story is when a pilot faced a sudden engine failure during takeoff. The plane started shaking violently, alarms were blaring. But through quick thinking and years of training, the pilot managed to land the plane safely, though it was a terrifying experience for everyone on board.

There was a story where a pilot faced a sudden engine failure during takeoff. The plane started to nose - dive immediately. The pilot had to quickly assess the situation and try to restart the engine while also attempting to gain some altitude. The passengers were screaming in fear. Fortunately, the pilot was able to restart one of the engines just in time and pull the plane up, avoiding a potential disaster.

In another case, a pilot flew into a large and unexpected thunderstorm. Lightning was flashing all around the plane. The pilot had to reduce the speed and altitude carefully. The plane was shaking and the visibility was almost zero. But the pilot held their nerve and got the plane out of the storm safely. This was a very harrowing experience for the pilot and the passengers alike. It took a while for everyone to calm down after that. The pilot also had to check the plane thoroughly for any possible damage caused by the lightning.

One horror story could be a situation where there was a sudden mechanical failure during flight. Maybe the engines started acting up and the pilot had to make quick decisions to ensure the safety of the passengers. It was a nerve - wracking experience as the plane started shaking and alarms were going off in the cockpit. But the pilot's training kicked in and they managed to land the plane safely, though it was a close call.

A really terrifying one was when a pilot had a bird strike that damaged both engines. The plane lost power and started to plummet. The pilot had to glide the plane towards what he hoped was a safe landing area. It was a race against time and gravity. Luckily, he managed to find a large open field and landed the plane with only minor injuries to the passengers.

Maybe there was a situation where magnetic interference affected the compass. The pilot was relying on the compass for basic orientation, but it started giving erratic readings. This made it difficult to maintain the correct course. They had to cross - reference with other instruments and the position of the sun (if possible) to keep the plane on track. It was a challenging situation that could have easily turned into a disaster if not handled properly.