Narrative:

In sum: on first solo cross country flight, mdt departure controller gave him a vector that took him away from his planned course. He then followed the wrong river, probably flew the wrong way on the only VOR radial he used and never referred to his magnetic compass. He called and got help on 121.5 MHZ and was vectored back on course. He fears that he may have entered R4001B and the northern part of dca TCA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT ON XCOUNTRY FLT GOT LOST AND MAY HAVE ENTERED THE TCA AND A RESTR AREA.

Narrative: IN SUM: ON FIRST SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT, MDT DEP CTLR GAVE HIM A VECTOR THAT TOOK HIM AWAY FROM HIS PLANNED COURSE. HE THEN FOLLOWED THE WRONG RIVER, PROBABLY FLEW THE WRONG WAY ON THE ONLY VOR RADIAL HE USED AND NEVER REFERRED TO HIS MAGNETIC COMPASS. HE CALLED AND GOT HELP ON 121.5 MHZ AND WAS VECTORED BACK ON COURSE. HE FEARS THAT HE MAY HAVE ENTERED R4001B AND THE NORTHERN PART OF DCA TCA.

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.