Spi on solo cross country flight becomes disoriented and enters a restr area.

Attributes
ACN	336396
Time
Date	199605
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nhk
State Reference	MD
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nhk
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
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 : 8 flight time total : 43 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	336396
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After being told radar contact lost by phx and 10-15 mi south of salisbury, I became disoriented en route to norfolk, va, from summit airport in middletown, de. I was following route 13 south into norfolk. Just south of salisbury, the highway splits. One road continues south, the other turns northeast. I followed the road to the northeast. After realizing I was off course, I turned back to the west, and flew through a restr airspace. I should have relied on my instruments, radio navigation, and the sectional more to always know my present/current position. I'm from the norfolk area (virginia beach) and assumed I knew the area pretty well, although it was my first time ever flying (myself) in the area (solo long cross country).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SPI ON SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT BECOMES DISORIENTED AND ENTERS A RESTR AREA.

Narrative: AFTER BEING TOLD RADAR CONTACT LOST BY PHX AND 10-15 MI S OF SALISBURY, I BECAME DISORIENTED ENRTE TO NORFOLK, VA, FROM SUMMIT ARPT IN MIDDLETOWN, DE. I WAS FOLLOWING RTE 13 S INTO NORFOLK. JUST S OF SALISBURY, THE HWY SPLITS. ONE ROAD CONTINUES S, THE OTHER TURNS NE. I FOLLOWED THE ROAD TO THE NE. AFTER REALIZING I WAS OFF COURSE, I TURNED BACK TO THE W, AND FLEW THROUGH A RESTR AIRSPACE. I SHOULD HAVE RELIED ON MY INSTS, RADIO NAV, AND THE SECTIONAL MORE TO ALWAYS KNOW MY PRESENT/CURRENT POS. I'M FROM THE NORFOLK AREA (VIRGINIA BEACH) AND ASSUMED I KNEW THE AREA PRETTY WELL, ALTHOUGH IT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER FLYING (MYSELF) IN THE AREA (SOLO LONG XCOUNTRY).

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.