Failing a checkride is frustrating—and expensive. Whether it’s due to knowledge deficiencies, skill gaps, or logbook errors, the impact of a failed checkride goes beyond immediate disappointment. Retesting fees, additional training costs, and career delays can quickly add up.
The good news? You can try again, and next time, you’ll be better prepared. In this guide, we’ll break down the true cost of a failed checkride, discuss common mistakes to avoid, and explore key strategies to ensure success—including how the right digital logbook can help you stay organized and confident before test day.
The Financial Cost of a Failed Checkride
A checkride is the final step in earning a new certificate or rating, requiring extensive preparation and investment. Unfortunately, a failure often means additional costs—some direct, others indirect.
Direct Costs of a Failed Checkride
- Retesting Fees – Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) charge for each retest, typically ranging from $400 to $800, depending on the examiner and location.
- Additional Training – After a failed checkride, you must receive additional flight instruction before retesting. With aircraft rentals averaging $150+/hr for single-engine and $300+/hr for multi-engine, plus $75+/hr for a flight instructor, total retraining costs can exceed $2,000 just to reattempt the checkride.
Indirect Costs of a Failed Checkride
Beyond direct expenses, checkride failures can create costly delays:
- Lost Time – Each failed attempt postpones your progress toward career milestones or personal goals.
- Missed Opportunities – Delays can impact your job prospects, especially for aspiring airline pilots. Major airlines often expect a structured progression through training, and extended delays or a high failure-rate could put candidates behind in the hiring pipeline.
The Emotional & Psychological Impact
Failing a checkride isn’t just a financial setback—it can shake your confidence, increase pressure, and even create a sense of stigma among peers.
How a Failed Checkride Can Affect Pilots
- Loss of Confidence – Self-doubt can creep in, making future checkrides even more stressful.
- Heightened Pressure – Knowing you’re being retested adds mental stress, which can impact performance.
- Fear of Judgment – Many pilots worry about how instructors, peers, and potential employers will perceive them.
- Loss of Tier-1 Job Opportunities – Every pilot has a bad day or “stubs their toe” at some point. But repeated checkride failures can show a negative trend leaving employers wondering how you’ll perform in a long-term position.
However, one checkride failure does not define your career. The best pilots learn from mistakes, adjust their training approach or tools they use, and come back stronger.
How Checkride Failures Impact Others
A failed checkride doesn’t just affect the pilot—it has ripple effects throughout the aviation community.
The Applicant (You!)
- Faces additional financial and emotional burdens.
- Must dedicate more time to preparation, potentially delaying career goals.
Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs)
- Will likely feel responsible for the failure and take a confidence hit as well.
- Have to maintain a first-time pass rate of 80% to qualify for a Gold Seal Flight Instructor status. A student’s failed checkride could cost them this coveted “feather in the cap.”
Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs)
- Frustration increases when unprepared students arrive for checkrides.
- Scheduling additional retests adds to their workload, potentially delaying exams for other students.
How to Prepare Checkride Success
1. Master the Fundamentals
Many checkride failures stem from gaps in knowledge or inconsistent flight skills. Before scheduling your test, make sure you:
- Thoroughly understand the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and/or Practical Test Standards (PTS) for the certificate you are applying for.
- Have a solid grasp of all Areas of Operation and Technical Subject Areas.
- Can execute maneuvers and practical skills confidently and consistently.
2. Eliminate Logbook Errors
One of the most avoidable reasons for checkride failure is a disorganized or incorrect logbook. A DPE will scrutinize your logbook before the test begins, and mistakes can cause an immediate failure before you even start flying.
Using a digital logbook like AIROS ensures that:
- Your flight hours are accurately logged and calculated.
- You can easily check that you’ve met all training and currency requirements before the test.
- You can quickly generate a clean, professional logbook summary for the examiner.
By eliminating paper logbook errors and ensuring your totals match FAA requirements, you’ll prevent unnecessary stress and delays.
3. Simulate the Checkride Environment
Practicing under real test conditions can reduce anxiety and improve performance. Here’s how:
- Do mock checkrides with your instructor, covering both oral and flight portions.
- Use a flight simulator to reinforce procedures, especially for IFR checkrides.
Helpful Tip: Check out Pilot’sCafe IFR Quick-Review Study Guide by Amir Fleminger to sharpen your instrument checkride prep and maintain IFR proficiency.
- Record and review flights to identify and correct weak areas.
4. Prepare for the Oral Exam
The oral portion of the checkride is just as important as the flight. To prepare:
- Review the ACS (Airman Certification Standards) to understand what the examiner expects.
- Practice answering questions aloud to gain confidence in explaining concepts.
- Use real-world examples from your flight history (easily referenced in a digital logbook).
5. Manage Pre-Checkride Stress
Checkride anxiety is normal, but you can minimize it by:
- Getting enough rest before test day—fatigue can impair performance.
- Arriving early to reduce last-minute rushing.
- Using your digital logbook to double-check requirements and avoid last-minute surprises.
The Positive Impact of Checkride Success
Passing a checkride on the first attempt saves money, preserves confidence, and keeps career momentum moving forward. More importantly, it reinforces good habits and strengthens relationships between pilots and CFIs.
By focusing on preparation, organization, and using the right tools, you can turn checkrides into stepping stones instead of roadblocks.
Final Thoughts
Failing a checkride is tough, but it’s not the end of the world. By understanding the financial, emotional, and professional costs of failure, pilots can take proactive steps to avoid common mistakes and prepare effectively.
Using a cutting-edge digital logbook like AIROS helps pilots stay organized, boost confidence, and prevent checkride failures caused by logbook errors. With the right preparation, your next checkride will be a success!
FAQs
1. How much does a failed checkride cost?
A failed checkride can cost anywhere from $400 to $800 in retesting fees alone. When adding extra flight training and instructor costs, the total can exceed $2,000.
2. What are the most common reasons pilots fail checkrides?
The most frequent reasons include knowledge gaps, poor maneuver execution, checkride nerves, and logbook errors. Many failures can be prevented with better preparation and organization.
3. How can a digital logbook help with checkride preparation?
A digital logbook like AIROS 360 eliminates calculation errors, ensures compliance with training requirements, and makes it easy to generate professional summaries for examiners.
4. Will a failed checkride hurt my aviation career?
One failed checkride isn’t a career-ender, but multiple failures can raise concerns with employers. The key is to learn from mistakes, improve, and pass the retest with confidence.
5. What should I do immediately after failing a checkride?
Take time to debrief with your instructor, identify weaknesses, and create a plan for improvement. Don’t rush into a retest—train until you’re truly ready.
