STUDENT PLT IN A SEL CESSNA ON A SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT BECAME DISORIENTED AND ACCIDENTALLY CROSSED THE UNITED STATES BORDER. HE SOON RECOGNIZED LANDMARKS AND IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE FOREIGN LAND AND CAME BACK OVER THE BORDER AND CONTACTED THE ARPT OF ENTRY; HIS DEST; FOR CUSTOMS INTERVIEW.

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THIS WAS MY FIRST LONG XCOUNTRY. ON RETURN LEG TO SDM I WAS ON MAGNETIC COURSE FROM BORREGO SPRINGS OF 205 DEGS; ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP 205 DEG POGY RADIAL. FOR SOME REASON I WAS NEVER ABLE TO RECEIVE POGY SIGNAL. I BECAME SLIGHTLY DISORIENTATED IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR BROWN FIELD. I FLEW AROUND THE BACK SIDE OF MOUNTAIN (3566 FT ALT) AT 2000 FT MSL. AFTER FLYING AROUND THIS MOUNTAIN; I CROSSED INTO MEXICO. UPON SIGHTING RODRIGUEZ FIELD (MMTJ) I REALIZED I WAS OVER THE BORDER AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED BROWN FIELD ON 126.5. THEY TOLD ME TO PROCEED N AT 2000 FT MSL. AFTER THEN; I CALLED BROWN; LANDED THERE TO TELL CUSTOMS OF ACCIDENTAL XING. CUSTOMS AGENT TOLD ME TO BE MORE CAREFUL NEXT TIME AND I FLEW BACK TO SDM. I THINK I WAS NOT OVER THE BORDER FOR MORE THAN 4 MINS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) VACUUM (SUCTION) ON PLANE WAS INTERMITTENT DURING LAST LEG. I SPENT SOME TIME IN COCKPIT PLAYING WITH DIRECTIONAL GYRO AND ATTITUDE INDICATOR; TRYING TO SOLVE PROB. 2) VOR. I BELIEVE NOW THAT IN TRYING TO STAY LOW OUT OF SAN DIEGO CLASS B I MAY HAVE BEEN TOO LOW TO RECEIVE POGY SIGNAL. 3) UNFAMILIAR AREA. ALTHOUGH I HAVE FLOWN AROUND THIS AREA FOR ABOUT 2 YRS; I HAVE ONLY FLOWN BACK THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ABOUT 2-3 TIMES. I DID NOTICE THAT ON A PREVIOUS TRIP FROM PSP THAT POGY WAS HARD TO RECEIVE IN THIS DIRECTION. 4) LACK OF EXPERIENCE; STILL A STUDENT PLT; I TRY TO BE REAL CAREFUL. I SURE FELT LIKE A REAL IDIOT CALLING BROWN FIELD AND TELLING THEM THAT I ACCIDENTALLY FLEW ACROSS THE BORDER. CONCLUSION: I FELT REAL STUPID FOR NOT RECOGNIZING LANDMARKS AND TURNING TOO LATE. I AM DEFINITELY BUYING A GPS AS PREVENTION FOR NOT REPEATING THIS EVENT. THANKS.