murphy,
There was an "I learned About Flying From That" article in Pilot magazine a while back, with just that scenario. I can't quite remember the details, but I think the poor first solo student eventually had to divert to another airfield, and managed it! I do remember that she said it had been a two hour first solo.
Thinking about that, I often wonder about these students who go solo in very few hours. Are they prepared for all the things that could happen, or at least some of them? Have they done basic nav, are they reasonably OK on the radio, can they follow a chart, have they practised EFATO...to mention but a few? Everyone thinks they only have to do one circuit...but as pointed out, in the time taken to do one circuit, a lot of things can happen.
