C172 pilot becomes lost on cross country flight and flies through class B airspace. When low fuel li...

Attributes
ACN	796255
Time
Date	200807
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 3800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 47.6 flight time total : 100 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	796255
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry excursion : runway non adherence : far other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was returning from ZZZ. On the way back from ZZZ; I realized that I was over ZZZ1 international airport and knew something was wrong. I looked through the left and right windows for traffic and realized that I had probably gotten off course. I contacted ZZZ2 tower; stated my position and advised them that I believed I was near the ZZZ1 international airport. Tower advised me to fly heading 290 degrees; so I did as they instructed. I contacted tower again to let them know that my low fuel light was flashing. They then told me to squawk 7700; so I did. Tower then asked if I thought I had enough fuel to make it to ZZZ2 and I told them that I would try. After the low fuel light continued to flash a number of times; I contacted ZZZ2 tower again. Tower advised me to land at ZZZ3; but the first airport I saw was ZZZ4. I decided to land at ZZZ4 airport so that I could refuel. I then called my school and they sent an instructor to fly back with me. When landing at the ZZZ4 airport; I landed too fast and I skidded off onto the grass. After taxiing to the ramp for help; I was asked to contact ZZZ1 tower; so I did. The tower then asked me for my address and explained to me that I busted their airspace. I now realize the importance of always using flight following. I also recognize that my disorientation has created problems; not only for me; but for others as well. I will be taking some remedial instruction on navigation in and around class B airspace so as not to repeat this problem in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PILOT BECOMES LOST ON CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND FLIES THROUGH CLASS B AIRSPACE. WHEN LOW FUEL LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH PILOT LANDS FAST AT FIRST AVAILABLE ARPT AND GOES OFF RWY.

Narrative: I WAS RETURNING FROM ZZZ. ON THE WAY BACK FROM ZZZ; I REALIZED THAT I WAS OVER ZZZ1 INTL ARPT AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I LOOKED THROUGH THE L AND R WINDOWS FOR TFC AND REALIZED THAT I HAD PROBABLY GOTTEN OFF COURSE. I CONTACTED ZZZ2 TWR; STATED MY POS AND ADVISED THEM THAT I BELIEVED I WAS NEAR THE ZZZ1 INTL ARPT. TWR ADVISED ME TO FLY HDG 290 DEGS; SO I DID AS THEY INSTRUCTED. I CONTACTED TWR AGAIN TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY LOW FUEL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THEY THEN TOLD ME TO SQUAWK 7700; SO I DID. TWR THEN ASKED IF I THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO MAKE IT TO ZZZ2 AND I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD TRY. AFTER THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH A NUMBER OF TIMES; I CONTACTED ZZZ2 TWR AGAIN. TWR ADVISED ME TO LAND AT ZZZ3; BUT THE FIRST ARPT I SAW WAS ZZZ4. I DECIDED TO LAND AT ZZZ4 ARPT SO THAT I COULD REFUEL. I THEN CALLED MY SCHOOL AND THEY SENT AN INSTRUCTOR TO FLY BACK WITH ME. WHEN LNDG AT THE ZZZ4 ARPT; I LANDED TOO FAST AND I SKIDDED OFF ONTO THE GRASS. AFTER TAXIING TO THE RAMP FOR HELP; I WAS ASKED TO CONTACT ZZZ1 TWR; SO I DID. THE TWR THEN ASKED ME FOR MY ADDRESS AND EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I BUSTED THEIR AIRSPACE. I NOW REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ALWAYS USING FLT FOLLOWING. I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT MY DISORIENTATION HAS CREATED PROBS; NOT ONLY FOR ME; BUT FOR OTHERS AS WELL. I WILL BE TAKING SOME REMEDIAL INSTRUCTION ON NAV IN AND AROUND CLASS B AIRSPACE SO AS NOT TO REPEAT THIS PROB IN THE FUTURE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

C172 pilot becomes lost on cross country flight and flies through class B airspace. When low fuel light begins to flash pilot lands fast at first available airport and goes off runway.