SMA PLT CLBS THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT. FLIES DIRECTLY TOWARD PROHIBITED AIRSPACE. CTLR INTERVENES.

Narrative

LEAVING BALTIMORE I WAS GRANTED DIRECT HEF AT OR BELOW 2000. I TOOK OFF; THE CTLR CALLED AND REQUESTED I 'CYCLE THE TRANSPONDER.' I HAD LEFT IT IN STANDBY. I PROCEEDED TO CLB THROUGH 2000; AT 2300 THE CTLR CALLED AGAIN; 'SINCE YOU HAVE ALREADY BUSTED YOUR ALT; CLB TO 3000 AND PROCEED DIRECT MANASSAS.' I RESPONDED 'SORRY AND THANK YOU.' BY NOW I WAS FEELING PRETTY BADLY. I WAS THEN HANDED OFF TO WASHINGTON APCH; THE REQUESTED I TUNE IN DCA AND PROCEED DIRECT. THIS LINED ME ON APCH FOR ONE OF THEIR RWYS. THEY THEN VECTORED ME TO THE R. BY NOW I WAS HDG FOR THE PROHIBITED SPACE OVER THE CAPITOL; MALL; WHITE HOUSE; NAVAL OBSERVATORY; ONLY I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL ATC SAID SOMETHING. ONCE AROUND DC I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED DIRECT HEF. THE REST OF THE FLT PROCEED WITHOUT ANY ABNORMALITIES. I WAS PRETTY TIRED BY NOW. LOOKING BACK ON THESE FLTS; I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT MY NOT SO CURRENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE ATC SYS AND THE FLT ENVIRONMENT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MY MISTAKES. 2 THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE; 1) LNDG; AND 2) FORGIVE MYSELF AND GO ON FOR THE NOT SO CRITICAL ONES; REMEMBERING WHAT I HAVE DONE; TRYING TO AVOID IT AGAIN.