x-country solo

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. If/when I get my
ticket, I'll be proud to join the group of able practitioners of the flying
art represented on these newsgroups. A few remarks:

To Harry Gordon: I appreciated the humor--I was pretty upset with myself at
the time.

To Cub Driver (Dan Ford): I liked the story about the approach on the 45 to
the vacant lot. Your sailing trip sounded a lot like my flying misadventure
(in fact, ABC=BDR, XYZ=HVN). My mind certainly tried to make the airport fit
my mental picture, the contrary evidence of my senses notwithstanding.

To Robert M. Gary: I've certainly tried to learn from it. It's all I've
thought about for 24hrs. Your point about ETE is well taken.

To Eric Miller: flight following was suggested, not required. I agree it
might have helped. The blinders were on all the way to the pattern at the
wrong airport. When they came off, it was quite a shock, since I'm actually
quite familiar with the city near XYZ. Suddenly I recognized every
lankmark, and couldn't believe what I'd done.

To Steve Robertson: I have a call in to my instructor about filing the NASA
form. It's already filled out. I understand the different senses of forget
and remember when you said, "...forget about it. But remember it."
Remember will be easy; forget will be harder, upset as I still am.

To Anyone: I was using VORs. Trouble was, I was so sure of where I
(thought I) was, I managed to ignore what they were telling me.

To John T: I like your videos. No visual/radar contact reported by my
intended tower should have been a red flag, for sure. Agreed, knowledge of
the runways was what ultimately broke the spell of being so sure I was in
the right place.

To Anyone: I was using VORs. Trouble was, I was so sure of where I
(thought I) was, I managed to ignore what they were telling me.


You don't have to be a student to "pull that trick" :-(. I go so lost up in
WI a few weeks ago that I am still surprised that I found my ultimate
destination not to mention the airport I started from. And I did exactly
what you did - "I can't be where that VOR says I am. It must be wrong!" We
all learn, even after passing the checkride. Hang in there and learn from
your experience. You'll do fine (I hope I learned from mine - I will find
out in a few days). And thanks for your comment.

Harry
PP-ASEL

I can't be where that VOR says I am. It must be wrong!"

and the compass (must be wrong 'cause I'm descending),
and the heading indicator (must've precessed)...

The mind is very powerful when it thinks it's right, against all the
evidence. The painted numbers on the runways were hard to explain
away...that finally broke the spell!

and the compass (must be wrong 'cause I'm descending),
and the heading indicator (must've precessed)...

The mind is very powerful when it thinks it's right, against all the
evidence. The painted numbers on the runways were hard to explain
away...that finally broke the spell!


Joe, I even did that once (explain away the runway markings, that is). There
is nothing more "exciting" and "comforting" to your passenger than landing
at the wrong airport because "you knew exactly where you were" regardless of
runway markings or anything else!!!!! :-))) Fortunately, my passenger was
my wife and she thought it was funny and we had a great time anyway. I
guess I should explain. We have a lot of single runway, small airports in
our area. Two of them are about 10 miles apart and one has a 13/31 runway
and the other has a 12/30 runway. You can take it from there :-).

"Confession is great for the soul."

Harry

Two of them are about 10 miles apart and one has a 13/31 runway
and the other has a 12/30 runway. You can take it from there :-).

You only had a 10 degree difference. I had 30 degrees to play with;
otherwise, I probably would've landed too!

To Eric Miller: flight following was suggested, not required. I agree it
might have helped.

I went on my first solo XC last sunday. I was on flight following with
Norcal and Oakland Center. I ran unintentionally after also getting
a lost due to mixing up the 2 nav/comms. into some decreased visibilty
(probably around 3-5 mile visibilty). I asked for
a vector to the nearest airport. They knew where I was (you get
a unique squawk), my
altitude and I was a solo student pilot just by saying "request
vector to nearest airport due to weather." Within seconds
they gave me a vector. Literally maybe 20 seconds total between
the beginning of my radio call and the end of theirs.
Fortunately by the time they finished their read, I was through
the weather and I figured out my error and knew the right
way to STS. I reported "negative. I'm through the weather and just
figured out where I am. Will go direct to STS." From then on,
they spoke to me every 2 minutes babying me. No problem. That
is what I pay my tax dollars for.....basically a sort of insurance.
No need to identify myself, no wasted time trying to have them guess
where I was, no hogging up the radio when they are trying to deal
with United and American Airline heavies, etc. They point
out traffic to me almost all the time. They are literally
a second set of eyes. I'm literally afraid to fly around the
bay area without them. I don't understand why people would fly
around when it is available. Even for short hops, use them.

In your case, you could have said, "solo student pilot, unfamiliar,
am I X miles in this direction of the airport?" They would give you
vectors, would probably contact that tower and notify them of the problem.

Use them. They are your friend. Don't be afraid to talk to them
on the radio. You aren't the first student either. Only way to
learn is doing it. At first I was lost. Now I fly through
Class B (I got signed off on that), Norcal, Oakland Center, whatever
and I rarely have a problem with radio communications.

Gerald

Thanks Gerald. All points well taken. I'm training at a busy Class D field
on the fringe of Class B, so I'm very comfortable with busy controlled
airspace and radio communication. That wasn't the issue. I guess I thought
this flight was so easy, I didn't need the flight following. The terrain
was all familiar and conditions were as CAVU as CAVU gets (I could see stuff
I know was 40 miles away). In fact, in retrospect, I got fixated on the
wrong city and wrong airport from perhaps 20 miles away and ignored the
evidence that I was off course.