I don't want to write about 9/11 - not ready yet. But yes, it was a clear, crisp day. Until the smoke started. Then it got foggy.
Any student pilot, ready for his first cross-country flight would have the navigational skills to find the WTC. Ain't rocket science, especially with today's navigational aids, which they probably didn't need or use, as the trip was only about 150 miles. Shorter than my first cross-country flight.