r/flying•
BCR-ABL1

Failed PPL check ride and passed the same day

Checkride

Had my PPL check ride today.

The oral went really well. The DPE actually told me afterward that I was "well above average" and one of the better applicants he'd had in a while.

Unfortunately, the flight didn't go the same way. Things were ok until the very first landing, the DPE took the controls just before the flare because he felt the approach had become unsafe. At that point I pretty much knew the ride was over, even though he didn't say anything right away. On the next maneuver (short-field takeoff), I made things even worse by forgetting to taxi all the way to the end of the runway before starting the takeoff roll. Looking back, I think my head was still stuck on the landing.

The good news is the DPE had some time that afternoon. He debriefed me, my instructor took me up for some retraining on the unsatisfactory items, and then the DPE retested me later the same day. I passed the retest without any issues.

So now I'm left wondering:

Is a same-day retraining/retest something common? I know comparing to the alternative I probably got lucky but still feels like a brutal way to do it.

For those who aren't planning on an airline career, does busted PPL checkride have any practical consequences? Insurance and flying club care about it?

Posted Jul 23, 2026, 5:07 AM UTC

12227
Loading comments…