Flight assist for lost student pilot after emergency frequency used.

Attributes
ACN	185940
Time
Date	199108
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : avp
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : avp
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other ground : preflight
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 35 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	185940
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I flew an small aircraft from 47N to mpo on a cross country solo. I arrived at mpo on time. After takeoff from mpo, I called williamsport radio and opened my second VFR flight plan. I turned to a heading of 151 as planned earlier. I saw my first chkpoint and wrote down the time. About 10 mins later I began looking for the second chkpoint and I could not find it. I thought I was traveling slower than I had planned and I would see it soon, but I never did. I tried to call 47N on the radio, but I was too far away. Then I tried to use sbj VORTAC, but I was too far away. After a while I noticed that the heading indicator was not aligned with the magnetic compass and I had drifted off course. I tried turning in different directions to receive signals from the sbj VORTAC, but it didn't work. I tried to call 47N and sbj on the radio again, but I did not receive an answer. I realized that I had been flying longer than I had planned and I wanted to find an airport so I could refuel. I was lost and I asked for a response on 121.5 on the radio. Someone responded and I explained my situation. He told me to switch to 124.5 and squawk 5353 and identify. He guided me to wilkes barre and I landed without incident. I called 47N and my instructor met me at wilkes barre and we flew back to 47N.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ASSIST FOR LOST STUDENT PLT AFTER EMER FREQ USED.

Narrative: I FLEW AN SMA FROM 47N TO MPO ON A XCOUNTRY SOLO. I ARRIVED AT MPO ON TIME. AFTER TKOF FROM MPO, I CALLED WILLIAMSPORT RADIO AND OPENED MY SECOND VFR FLT PLAN. I TURNED TO A HDG OF 151 AS PLANNED EARLIER. I SAW MY FIRST CHKPOINT AND WROTE DOWN THE TIME. ABOUT 10 MINS LATER I BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE SECOND CHKPOINT AND I COULD NOT FIND IT. I THOUGHT I WAS TRAVELING SLOWER THAN I HAD PLANNED AND I WOULD SEE IT SOON, BUT I NEVER DID. I TRIED TO CALL 47N ON THE RADIO, BUT I WAS TOO FAR AWAY. THEN I TRIED TO USE SBJ VORTAC, BUT I WAS TOO FAR AWAY. AFTER A WHILE I NOTICED THAT THE HDG INDICATOR WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE MAGNETIC COMPASS AND I HAD DRIFTED OFF COURSE. I TRIED TURNING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO RECEIVE SIGNALS FROM THE SBJ VORTAC, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I TRIED TO CALL 47N AND SBJ ON THE RADIO AGAIN, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE AN ANSWER. I REALIZED THAT I HAD BEEN FLYING LONGER THAN I HAD PLANNED AND I WANTED TO FIND AN ARPT SO I COULD REFUEL. I WAS LOST AND I ASKED FOR A RESPONSE ON 121.5 ON THE RADIO. SOMEONE RESPONDED AND I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION. HE TOLD ME TO SWITCH TO 124.5 AND SQUAWK 5353 AND IDENT. HE GUIDED ME TO WILKES BARRE AND I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I CALLED 47N AND MY INSTRUCTOR MET ME AT WILKES BARRE AND WE FLEW BACK TO 47N.

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.