Student pilot lost on solo cross country.

Attributes
ACN	239057
Time
Date	199304
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hef
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ida tower : hef
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 3 flight time total : 62 flight time type : 9
ASRS Report	239057
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route to charlottesville, va, on the second leg of my student long solo cross country, I missed my navigation chkpoint over farmville, va. I noticed the ceiling was decreasing (from 2000-1000) and the WX was deteriorating. I noticed I had been flying for nearly an hour and I should have been over my chkpoint after 30 mins of flight. I tried calling 'richmond approach' and was unable to reach them. An airline heard me and began relaying for me. I informed richmond of my last known position and time. Richmond directed me to dial in a number into my transponder. I did so. Due to the altitude I was flying, richmond was unable to see me. I maintained my course (048) and richmond kept talking to me through the air carrier flight. Finally, richmond switched me to dulles approach. I informed dulles approach of my situation and explained I was trying to get to charlottesville. Dulles informed me the WX was too bad in charlottesville, va. Dulles directed me to dial in a transponder code and they were unable to see me. So, dulles directed me to dial in 7700. Now the ceiling was between 1000-1500 ft. I was still talking to dulles approach. Finally, I saw a plane flying overhead at about 1500 ft. I told dulles I saw the aircraft. Dulles informed me that manassas municipal airport should be off my right wing. I saw the airport and I landed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT LOST ON SOLO XCOUNTRY.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE TO CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, ON THE SECOND LEG OF MY STUDENT LONG SOLO XCOUNTRY, I MISSED MY NAV CHKPOINT OVER FARMVILLE, VA. I NOTICED THE CEILING WAS DECREASING (FROM 2000-1000) AND THE WX WAS DETERIORATING. I NOTICED I HAD BEEN FLYING FOR NEARLY AN HR AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVER MY CHKPOINT AFTER 30 MINS OF FLT. I TRIED CALLING 'RICHMOND APCH' AND WAS UNABLE TO REACH THEM. AN AIRLINE HEARD ME AND BEGAN RELAYING FOR ME. I INFORMED RICHMOND OF MY LAST KNOWN POS AND TIME. RICHMOND DIRECTED ME TO DIAL IN A NUMBER INTO MY XPONDER. I DID SO. DUE TO THE ALT I WAS FLYING, RICHMOND WAS UNABLE TO SEE ME. I MAINTAINED MY COURSE (048) AND RICHMOND KEPT TALKING TO ME THROUGH THE ACR FLT. FINALLY, RICHMOND SWITCHED ME TO DULLES APCH. I INFORMED DULLES APCH OF MY SIT AND EXPLAINED I WAS TRYING TO GET TO CHARLOTTESVILLE. DULLES INFORMED ME THE WX WAS TOO BAD IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. DULLES DIRECTED ME TO DIAL IN A XPONDER CODE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO SEE ME. SO, DULLES DIRECTED ME TO DIAL IN 7700. NOW THE CEILING WAS BTWN 1000-1500 FT. I WAS STILL TALKING TO DULLES APCH. FINALLY, I SAW A PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD AT ABOUT 1500 FT. I TOLD DULLES I SAW THE ACFT. DULLES INFORMED ME THAT MANASSAS MUNICIPAL ARPT SHOULD BE OFF MY R WING. I SAW THE ARPT AND I LANDED.

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.