Student pilot gets lost while approaching abi airport.

Attributes
ACN	259357
Time
Date	199312
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abi
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abi
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 34 flight time total : 34 flight time type : 34
ASRS Report	259357
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As a student pilot, I flew direct from my home airport (sjt) to abi. However, as I entered the area of the airport, I could not see the field. I asked for vectors to the airport but I could not find the runways even though they were within 2 or 3 mi of my position. Because I was unable to see the airport as I approached the tower gave me clearance to a different runway. I was very fortunate to be the only traffic within the area. The haze present in the area, my nervousness, and my first time to abi were all contributing factors to my inability to find the runway of assignment. I believe that experience is a great teacher and I feel that I will be more comfortable as I progress toward my goal as a private pilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT GETS LOST WHILE APCHING ABI ARPT.

Narrative: AS A STUDENT PLT, I FLEW DIRECT FROM MY HOME ARPT (SJT) TO ABI. HOWEVER, AS I ENTERED THE AREA OF THE ARPT, I COULD NOT SEE THE FIELD. I ASKED FOR VECTORS TO THE ARPT BUT I COULD NOT FIND THE RWYS EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE WITHIN 2 OR 3 MI OF MY POS. BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ARPT AS I APCHED THE TWR GAVE ME CLRNC TO A DIFFERENT RWY. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE THE ONLY TFC WITHIN THE AREA. THE HAZE PRESENT IN THE AREA, MY NERVOUSNESS, AND MY FIRST TIME TO ABI WERE ALL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO MY INABILITY TO FIND THE RWY OF ASSIGNMENT. I BELIEVE THAT EXPERIENCE IS A GREAT TEACHER AND I FEEL THAT I WILL BE MORE COMFORTABLE AS I PROGRESS TOWARD MY GOAL AS A PVT PLT.

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.