Student pilot on solo cross-country inadvertently penetrates the ny TCA.

Attributes
ACN	177358
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 43 flight time type : 43
ASRS Report	177358
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As a student pilot on my third VFR x-country flight between cdw and N12, I veered off course while circumnaving the ny TCA at 1500'. This error was due to my misinterp my predetermined course heading. The visibility was decreasing as my x-country progressed; therefore, I was unable to verify my position. I used radio navigation as a backup to pilotage in order to indicate my position. This verified a deviation in course. The visibility continued to deteriorate and I made the decision to abort the x-country and return to cdw. I knew I was close to TCA; therefore, I descended to 1000' and contacted ny approach. When I first attempted to contact ny approach, a problem arose with my headset. When ny approach was finally reached, they verified my position. I was then given vectors to return to cdw and informed that I had entered the ny TCA. Upon landing at cdw, I was told to phone ny approach facility. I then supplied the controller with my name, aircraft type and my original flight plan.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT ON SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY INADVERTENTLY PENETRATES THE NY TCA.

Narrative: AS A STUDENT PLT ON MY THIRD VFR X-COUNTRY FLT BTWN CDW AND N12, I VEERED OFF COURSE WHILE CIRCUMNAVING THE NY TCA AT 1500'. THIS ERROR WAS DUE TO MY MISINTERP MY PREDETERMINED COURSE HDG. THE VISIBILITY WAS DECREASING AS MY X-COUNTRY PROGRESSED; THEREFORE, I WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY MY POS. I USED RADIO NAV AS A BACKUP TO PILOTAGE IN ORDER TO INDICATE MY POS. THIS VERIFIED A DEVIATION IN COURSE. THE VISIBILITY CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND I MADE THE DECISION TO ABORT THE X-COUNTRY AND RETURN TO CDW. I KNEW I WAS CLOSE TO TCA; THEREFORE, I DSNDED TO 1000' AND CONTACTED NY APCH. WHEN I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT NY APCH, A PROB AROSE WITH MY HEADSET. WHEN NY APCH WAS FINALLY REACHED, THEY VERIFIED MY POS. I WAS THEN GIVEN VECTORS TO RETURN TO CDW AND INFORMED THAT I HAD ENTERED THE NY TCA. UPON LNDG AT CDW, I WAS TOLD TO PHONE NY APCH FAC. I THEN SUPPLIED THE CTLR WITH MY NAME, ACFT TYPE AND MY ORIGINAL FLT PLAN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.