if this guy is in a cessna and was flying over the capital area, would he need instruments to know what he was flying over, or are they at a low enough altitude that he should have been able to see where he was by looking down? i don't know squat about planes, but how does this kind of stunt happen?
I'm not sure, not being a flyer. I'd suspect he'd be low enough to see where the heck he was, unless there's cloud cover, but I just don't know how this happens accidentally.
There was a map on FNN, but I wasn't watching it. Apparently, after 9/11 a no-fly zone was put into effect. It's kind of a squirrly map (said the reporterette) because those F18s have to be able to get up to shoot the intruder(s) down.
A DC Sectional (air map) would have it clearly marked. Only an idiot would miss it. FAA regs require that you have a currebt sectional of the area you're flying in.
On a day like today, you can fly visual (no instruments) at the planes ceiling (12000 feet or so)