Student on cross country flight got lost and may have entered the TCA and a restr area.

Attributes
ACN	256513
Time
Date	199311
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bal
State Reference	MD
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi tracon : dov tracon : las
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time total : 62
ASRS Report	256513
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In sum: on first solo cross country flight, mdt departure controller gave him a vector that took him away from his planned course. He then followed the wrong river, probably flew the wrong way on the only VOR radial he used and never referred to his magnetic compass. He called and got help on 121.5 MHZ and was vectored back on course. He fears that he may have entered R4001B and the northern part of dca TCA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT ON XCOUNTRY FLT GOT LOST AND MAY HAVE ENTERED THE TCA AND A RESTR AREA.

Narrative: IN SUM: ON FIRST SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT, MDT DEP CTLR GAVE HIM A VECTOR THAT TOOK HIM AWAY FROM HIS PLANNED COURSE. HE THEN FOLLOWED THE WRONG RIVER, PROBABLY FLEW THE WRONG WAY ON THE ONLY VOR RADIAL HE USED AND NEVER REFERRED TO HIS MAGNETIC COMPASS. HE CALLED AND GOT HELP ON 121.5 MHZ AND WAS VECTORED BACK ON COURSE. HE FEARS THAT HE MAY HAVE ENTERED R4001B AND THE NORTHERN PART OF DCA TCA.

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.