Spi lost, calls TRACON for flight assist.

Attributes
ACN	187976
Time
Date	199109
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cvg airport : hao
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2800 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 13 flight time total : 19 flight time type : 19
ASRS Report	187976
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying an small aircraft out of hamilton. I takeoff and flew west to the training area. I climbed to 4000 ft, did 2 clearing turns, and was practicing slow flight and slips. When I got down to 2800 ft, I climbed back to 4000 ft, did 2 more clearing turns. I did some practice approachs and more slow flight. I was going to go back to hamilton and practice lndgs. When I went to go back, I couldn't place where I was at. I flew around trying to locate a landmark I could identify. I became disoriented and called hamilton. I was directed to call cincinnati control to get vectored back to hamilton. I contacted cincinnati control and explained my problem to them. I was instructed to squawk and identify. I was then instructed to climb to 3500. At this time I had already flown into cincinnati arsa without realizing it. The controller vectored me out of the area and back to hamilton. I let myself get into trouble by not thinking clearly at the time. I could have used a pair of vors to find my location and find my way back to hamilton, but at the time I never thought about it. I was trying to find a visual landmark that I could recognize.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SPI LOST, CALLS TRACON FOR FLT ASSIST.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AN SMA OUT OF HAMILTON. I TKOF AND FLEW W TO THE TRAINING AREA. I CLBED TO 4000 FT, DID 2 CLRING TURNS, AND WAS PRACTICING SLOW FLT AND SLIPS. WHEN I GOT DOWN TO 2800 FT, I CLBED BACK TO 4000 FT, DID 2 MORE CLRING TURNS. I DID SOME PRACTICE APCHS AND MORE SLOW FLT. I WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO HAMILTON AND PRACTICE LNDGS. WHEN I WENT TO GO BACK, I COULDN'T PLACE WHERE I WAS AT. I FLEW AROUND TRYING TO LOCATE A LANDMARK I COULD IDENT. I BECAME DISORIENTED AND CALLED HAMILTON. I WAS DIRECTED TO CALL CINCINNATI CTL TO GET VECTORED BACK TO HAMILTON. I CONTACTED CINCINNATI CTL AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO THEM. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO SQUAWK AND IDENT. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 3500. AT THIS TIME I HAD ALREADY FLOWN INTO CINCINNATI ARSA WITHOUT REALIZING IT. THE CTLR VECTORED ME OUT OF THE AREA AND BACK TO HAMILTON. I LET MYSELF GET INTO TROUBLE BY NOT THINKING CLRLY AT THE TIME. I COULD HAVE USED A PAIR OF VORS TO FIND MY LOCATION AND FIND MY WAY BACK TO HAMILTON, BUT AT THE TIME I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT. I WAS TRYING TO FIND A VISUAL LANDMARK THAT I COULD RECOGNIZE.

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.