Narrative:

I only have about 3 hours of actual time and had never flown solo in IMC before. I got a little disoriented on the VOR approach. I was tired and behind the plane. I was told to stay at 2000 ft until established on the VOR. I turned to the reciprocal of the correct heading and descended down to 1500 ft, then realized I was wrong and should be on the opposite heading and got a little off course. ATC then vectored me to the final approach course to help me out. I think the cause of this problem was being in the clouds for over an hour and being tired from that. Also, the workload for single pilot and my inexperience contributed. I feel to have an instrument rating you should be required a certain amount of time in IMC. This was a good learning experience and next time I'll go with another pilot in IMC, until I feel comfortable enough to go solo.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 INST RATED PLT BECOMES DISORIENTED IN IMC, REQUIRING VECTORS FROM APCH CTLR.

Narrative: I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 3 HRS OF ACTUAL TIME AND HAD NEVER FLOWN SOLO IN IMC BEFORE. I GOT A LITTLE DISORIENTED ON THE VOR APCH. I WAS TIRED AND BEHIND THE PLANE. I WAS TOLD TO STAY AT 2000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE VOR. I TURNED TO THE RECIPROCAL OF THE CORRECT HDG AND DSNDED DOWN TO 1500 FT, THEN REALIZED I WAS WRONG AND SHOULD BE ON THE OPPOSITE HDG AND GOT A LITTLE OFF COURSE. ATC THEN VECTORED ME TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE TO HELP ME OUT. I THINK THE CAUSE OF THIS PROB WAS BEING IN THE CLOUDS FOR OVER AN HR AND BEING TIRED FROM THAT. ALSO, THE WORKLOAD FOR SINGLE PLT AND MY INEXPERIENCE CONTRIBUTED. I FEEL TO HAVE AN INST RATING YOU SHOULD BE REQUIRED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME IN IMC. THIS WAS A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND NEXT TIME I'LL GO WITH ANOTHER PLT IN IMC, UNTIL I FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO GO SOLO.

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.