Pilot of small aircraft penetrated msp TCA during VFR solo night training flight.

Attributes
ACN	130232
Time
Date	198912
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : msp airport : mci
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2200 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
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 : 33 flight time total : 33 flight time type : 33
ASRS Report	130232
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I took off from crystal airport and flew a heading of 272 degree which was supposed to take me directly to the buffalo airport. I didn't find the airport at about the time that I felt I should have been there. I had been to the buffalo airport during the day a couple of times. At this point I felt that I might have overflown buffalo, so I turned back. Before I left my instructor told me if I got lost to call 121.1 and ask for a vector back to crystal airport. I descended to 2200' MSL at the same time I called up msp approach. Msp approach told me to squawk and identify. I did. Then I was told to flash my landing lights a couple of times. I did. At this point I was at 1800' MSL. I was told by msp approach to make a sharp left-hand turn and climb to 2000' or 2500' MSL with a heading of 350 degree. The flashlight which I used to illuminate the control board burned out. Then msp told me to maintain VFR. Msp approach vectored me back to crystal airport which was on my left wing, with the frequency to contact crystal tower. I contacted crystal tower and they ok'ed me to land.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA PENETRATED MSP TCA DURING VFR SOLO NIGHT TRAINING FLT.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF FROM CRYSTAL ARPT AND FLEW A HDG OF 272 DEG WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE ME DIRECTLY TO THE BUFFALO ARPT. I DIDN'T FIND THE ARPT AT ABOUT THE TIME THAT I FELT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. I HAD BEEN TO THE BUFFALO ARPT DURING THE DAY A COUPLE OF TIMES. AT THIS POINT I FELT THAT I MIGHT HAVE OVERFLOWN BUFFALO, SO I TURNED BACK. BEFORE I LEFT MY INSTRUCTOR TOLD ME IF I GOT LOST TO CALL 121.1 AND ASK FOR A VECTOR BACK TO CRYSTAL ARPT. I DESCENDED TO 2200' MSL AT THE SAME TIME I CALLED UP MSP APCH. MSP APCH TOLD ME TO SQUAWK AND IDENT. I DID. THEN I WAS TOLD TO FLASH MY LNDG LIGHTS A COUPLE OF TIMES. I DID. AT THIS POINT I WAS AT 1800' MSL. I WAS TOLD BY MSP APCH TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT-HAND TURN AND CLIMB TO 2000' OR 2500' MSL WITH A HDG OF 350 DEG. THE FLASHLIGHT WHICH I USED TO ILLUMINATE THE CONTROL BOARD BURNED OUT. THEN MSP TOLD ME TO MAINTAIN VFR. MSP APCH VECTORED ME BACK TO CRYSTAL ARPT WHICH WAS ON MY LEFT WING, WITH THE FREQ TO CONTACT CRYSTAL TWR. I CONTACTED CRYSTAL TWR AND THEY OK'ED ME TO LAND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.