Low time pilot flying at night becomes disoriented when VOR fails. Flight assist.

Attributes
ACN	238162
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi tower : dfw
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27 flight time total : 99 flight time type : 9
ASRS Report	238162
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was going from gettysburg to wilmington. I lost my VOR and I confused my heading, so I was lost. I saw a big city and I tried to find myself, but I couldn't, so I called to baltimore approach and they told me that I was in the TCA. I asked for headings to go back to wilmington. I followed all their instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME PLT FLYING AT NIGHT BECOMES DISORIENTED WHEN VOR FAILS. FLT ASSIST.

Narrative: I WAS GOING FROM GETTYSBURG TO WILMINGTON. I LOST MY VOR AND I CONFUSED MY HDG, SO I WAS LOST. I SAW A BIG CITY AND I TRIED TO FIND MYSELF, BUT I COULDN'T, SO I CALLED TO BALTIMORE APCH AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS IN THE TCA. I ASKED FOR HDGS TO GO BACK TO WILMINGTON. I FOLLOWED ALL THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.

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.