On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 16:41:37 GMT, Scott Lowrey
wrote:

I knew the rules of the ADIZ. I
basically failed to establish a correct heading after takeoff due to
stress and rusty skills; I froze, and kept blundering forward,
essentially lost for several minutes on a sunny day. The GPS was
different from what I was used to and I meant to practice VOR-only nav
that day. I felt pretty shook up for a few minutes but completed the
rest of the flight without problems.


I'm not sure what to tell you as far as proceeding with the legal
aspect of this, but I'd at least call AOPA.

It seems as though you've identified where your problem is...a
deficiency in pilotage/navigation. Whether you lose your ticket for
30/90 days or not, I wouldn't quit; I'd get with an instructor for a
few lessons, turn the VORs and GPS off and get confident in your
skills with a map and compass. Your whole issue started when you
didn't identify Potomac river correctly. With better VFR navigation
skills this might not have happened. Having an IFR ticket won't help
build these skills.

As far as being a sucky 20 hr/yr pilot, if you keep learning and keep
working on your skills eventually you'll be a good 20 hr/yr pilot. I
know many people who don't get into the 50 or 100 hr per year flight
time, but because they make the most out of their flights they are
very safe and competent people.

If it makes you feel any better at lunch today my friend and I told
each other stories of mistakes we made as students, and looked at how
valuable each lesson was where a mistake happened. Nobody's perfect
as much as we'd like to be.

HTH
z

P.S. Maybe if you offer the FAA the option of excepting 10 or so hour
remedial training program they'd back off a bit. They might want a
609 ride after the training is done, but it's worth a shot and you can
keep flying.