A student pilot of a PA38 entered bdl class B airspace while disoriented on solo cross country and f...

Attributes
ACN	425638
Time
Date	199901
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bdl
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-38 Tomahawk
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27 flight time total : 110 flight time type : 27
ASRS Report	425638
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On jan/xx/99 I was a student pilot on a solo cross country, flying from sch, ny, to pvd, ri, and became disoriented and drifted south into windsor locks class C airspace. I reoriented myself and continued on to pvd without contacting bdl approach. This was a mistake. I was at 3500 ft MSL and below the 4200 ft ceiling of this class C airspace. Upon landing at pvd I was instructed by the tower to call bdl approach, which I did. The supervisor at bdl explained what I had done and asked me how it happened, I explained. He then explained how I should have contacted approach when I was disoriented and that they were there to help. I apologized and thanked him for making me contact him. This was a major mistake on my part and thankfully no incident occurred. I know the seriousness of this situation and have learned from this experience and will be more aware of airspace violations in the future. I have also spoken with my CFI and received instruction on what to do when lost and how to prevent future violations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A STUDENT PLT OF A PA38 ENTERED BDL CLASS B AIRSPACE WHILE DISORIENTED ON SOLO XCOUNTRY AND FAILED TO CONTACT BDL TRACON.

Narrative: ON JAN/XX/99 I WAS A STUDENT PLT ON A SOLO XCOUNTRY, FLYING FROM SCH, NY, TO PVD, RI, AND BECAME DISORIENTED AND DRIFTED S INTO WINDSOR LOCKS CLASS C AIRSPACE. I REORIENTED MYSELF AND CONTINUED ON TO PVD WITHOUT CONTACTING BDL APCH. THIS WAS A MISTAKE. I WAS AT 3500 FT MSL AND BELOW THE 4200 FT CEILING OF THIS CLASS C AIRSPACE. UPON LNDG AT PVD I WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE TWR TO CALL BDL APCH, WHICH I DID. THE SUPVR AT BDL EXPLAINED WHAT I HAD DONE AND ASKED ME HOW IT HAPPENED, I EXPLAINED. HE THEN EXPLAINED HOW I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED APCH WHEN I WAS DISORIENTED AND THAT THEY WERE THERE TO HELP. I APOLOGIZED AND THANKED HIM FOR MAKING ME CONTACT HIM. THIS WAS A MAJOR MISTAKE ON MY PART AND THANKFULLY NO INCIDENT OCCURRED. I KNOW THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS SIT AND HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND WILL BE MORE AWARE OF AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN WITH MY CFI AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTION ON WHAT TO DO WHEN LOST AND HOW TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLATIONS.

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.

A student pilot of a PA38 entered bdl class B airspace while disoriented on solo cross country and failed to contact bdl TRACON.