A STUDENT PLT DEPARTED ON A SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT (WITHOUT INSTRUCTOR'S ENDORSEMENT); AND ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT FLT CONDITIONS. THE STUDENT WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN ATC ASSISTANCE; AND CONTINUED TO THE DEST ARPT.

Narrative

MAIDEN XCOUNTRY FLT; AND 2 ERRORS ON MY PART: I ENCOUNTERED BELOW VFR REQUIREMENTS; DIVERTED AROUND; AND LANDED AT DEST ARPT. (I RAN INTO POOR WX ENRTE AND I DECIDED TO RETURN BY DIFFERENT RTE; DOWNWIND OF PROB AREA. THE DIVERSION TOOK ME OVER LAKE MICHIGAN; APPROX 20-25 MI FROM MKG; VFR). I WAS DOWN TO 1500 FT AND 3 MI VISIBILITY. I CONTACTED MKG TWR AND ASKED FOR WX CONDITIONS AT ARPT; AND S; AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS CLR. I DECIDED TO CONTINUE AND 7 MI FROM ARPT; HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS DEVELOPED WITH VERTIGO CONDITIONS. FOR MY SAFETY; I REQUESTED; OR STATED I NEEDED TO CLB THROUGH NON VFR WX. AT APPROX 3500 FT; I LOCATED CLR SKIES AND ARPT; AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT! MY 2ND ERROR INVOLVED A MISUNDERSTANDING AS TO WHO COULD CLR ME ON MY 1ST SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT. MY FLT INSTRUCTOR WASN'T AVAILABLE; SO I MET WITH THE ARPT FACILITY MGR; WHO REVIEWED MY FLT PLAN; WX; FUEL; ETC. HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS MY 1ST SOLO FLT. (WE BELIEVED WE WERE DOING THE CORRECT THING). LESSON LEARNED WELL -- THANKS TO THE 2/10 UNDER THE HOOD; AND THANKS TO ATC; TOO. SINCE THIS ALL HAPPENED SO SUDDEN; I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND A MINIMUM OF 1 HR UNDER THE HOOD; PRIOR TO 1ST SOLO.