Narrative:

Became lost near small airport south of altoona VORTAC. Asked for assistance from altoona FSS on 121.5. Received position report - confirmed location. Unable to locate airport. Asked for IFR clearance to altoona, where WX was VFR. Flying in unknown area, approaching darkness, not ready or expecting to have to file and go IFR. Had VFR charts, but not IFR charts. Couldn't reach FSS on simplex frequency published. Used 121.5. At debrief FSS supervisor said I did the correct thing by asking for assistance early.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ASSIST AFTER CFI BECOMES LOST.

Narrative: BECAME LOST NEAR SMALL ARPT S OF ALTOONA VORTAC. ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM ALTOONA FSS ON 121.5. RECEIVED POS RPT - CONFIRMED LOCATION. UNABLE TO LOCATE ARPT. ASKED FOR IFR CLRNC TO ALTOONA, WHERE WX WAS VFR. FLYING IN UNKNOWN AREA, APCHING DARKNESS, NOT READY OR EXPECTING TO HAVE TO FILE AND GO IFR. HAD VFR CHARTS, BUT NOT IFR CHARTS. COULDN'T REACH FSS ON SIMPLEX FREQ PUBLISHED. USED 121.5. AT DEBRIEF FSS SUPVR SAID I DID THE CORRECT THING BY ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE EARLY.

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.