Narrative:

I was set to do my solo cross country from MD24 (haysfield) to N94 (carlise) to mrb (martinsburg). During preflight, I realized there was not enough fuel to perform the entire trip. Since there was no fuel available at MD24, I would need to fly to 2w2 (clearview) to fuel the plane. It was only a couple of mi off my direct path to N94. After receiving my code for my ADIZ flight plan from potomac, I departed MD24, contacted potomac approach and was soon cleared out of the ADIZ. As I approached EMI (westminster VOR), I knew to turn west to find 2w2. In hindsight, I turned too early. I was not able to find 2w2 and began to follow lost procedures. I started to circle while using my map trying to pick out landmarks. During my circling, I saw 2 fighter jets approaching me. They were circling and criss-crossing. I was not sure what was happening. I tuned to 121.5 to listen and heard nothing. Next, I tuned back to potomac approach and asked if these jets were for me. The controller replied by informing me I had busted the ADIZ. I asked for vectors back to MD24. He complied and gave me a phone number to call after landing. I called immediately and was informed that a pilot deviation report will be filed on my behalf. After dissecting what had happened, I came to the conclusion that I felt I was further north than I was. In reality, I was south and had circled my way in to the ADIZ. I feel that with all of the flight restrs and restr airspace, I, as a student, made a mistake by not properly identing my position. My instructor and I will be training heavily in this area. I will now only fly with a GPS as a back-up to assist in preventing this from ever happening again.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 STUDENT PLT, ON A SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT, GOT LOST AND RE-ENTERED DC ADIZ WITHOUT GETTING A CLRNC OR A DISCRETE XPONDER CODE.

Narrative: I WAS SET TO DO MY SOLO XCOUNTRY FROM MD24 (HAYSFIELD) TO N94 (CARLISE) TO MRB (MARTINSBURG). DURING PREFLT, I REALIZED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FUEL TO PERFORM THE ENTIRE TRIP. SINCE THERE WAS NO FUEL AVAILABLE AT MD24, I WOULD NEED TO FLY TO 2W2 (CLEARVIEW) TO FUEL THE PLANE. IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF MI OFF MY DIRECT PATH TO N94. AFTER RECEIVING MY CODE FOR MY ADIZ FLT PLAN FROM POTOMAC, I DEPARTED MD24, CONTACTED POTOMAC APCH AND WAS SOON CLRED OUT OF THE ADIZ. AS I APCHED EMI (WESTMINSTER VOR), I KNEW TO TURN W TO FIND 2W2. IN HINDSIGHT, I TURNED TOO EARLY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND 2W2 AND BEGAN TO FOLLOW LOST PROCS. I STARTED TO CIRCLE WHILE USING MY MAP TRYING TO PICK OUT LANDMARKS. DURING MY CIRCLING, I SAW 2 FIGHTER JETS APCHING ME. THEY WERE CIRCLING AND CRISS-CROSSING. I WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I TUNED TO 121.5 TO LISTEN AND HEARD NOTHING. NEXT, I TUNED BACK TO POTOMAC APCH AND ASKED IF THESE JETS WERE FOR ME. THE CTLR REPLIED BY INFORMING ME I HAD BUSTED THE ADIZ. I ASKED FOR VECTORS BACK TO MD24. HE COMPLIED AND GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL AFTER LNDG. I CALLED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS INFORMED THAT A PLTDEV RPT WILL BE FILED ON MY BEHALF. AFTER DISSECTING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I FELT I WAS FURTHER N THAN I WAS. IN REALITY, I WAS S AND HAD CIRCLED MY WAY IN TO THE ADIZ. I FEEL THAT WITH ALL OF THE FLT RESTRS AND RESTR AIRSPACE, I, AS A STUDENT, MADE A MISTAKE BY NOT PROPERLY IDENTING MY POS. MY INSTRUCTOR AND I WILL BE TRAINING HEAVILY IN THIS AREA. I WILL NOW ONLY FLY WITH A GPS AS A BACK-UP TO ASSIST IN PREVENTING THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

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.