Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7.1; Flight Crew Total 334; Flight Crew Type 233.2
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
I started the procedure turn at the VOR where I started outbound course on a heading of 270 and after 1 minute began my parallel procedure turn by turning back to a heading of 30 and looking to intercept the 270 radial with a 090 and to indication on the VOR. After getting to heading of 30 degrees I waited for the radial to come and it didn't so while trying to figure out what radial I was on; I accidently turned left to a heading of 330 and entered a restricted area. The Controller notified me of this and I took action to turn back southwest toward the VOR and once again trying to determine the radial I was on. At this point I became disoriented and I lost about 1;000 FT of altitude and as I was about 1;500 FT and I began to recover and return to the altitude of 2;500 FT when the Controller contacted me and advised me to simply to return to the airport and asked if I felt comfortable to perform an ILS approach; and concurred that I did feel comfortable to perform it. I then received vectors for the ILS approach into my home airport and then proceeded to land and after landing and performing the After Landing Checklist. I called Approach to cancel my IFR flight plan. While I'm an IFR rated pilot and current; I do realize that I need more training before trying to perform these approaches alone in IMC. This was a valuable learning experience for me. It also has made me realize what my current limitations are in terms of IFR flying.
While practicing instrument flying in VFR conditions; the pilot flying became disoriented and entered restricted airspace. When this was pointed out by ATC; the pilot exited the airspace but also descended 1;000 FT prior to becoming re-established at his cleared altitude.