A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT ENTERED INTO IMC; IN ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE DEST.

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I WAS OVERFLYING; THE PHOENIX CLASS B AIRSPACE AT 11500 FT; AND IN CONTACT WITH PHOENIX APCH; AND DEP. S OF THE ACTUAL ARPT; THE CEILINGS LOWERED; QUITE QUICKLY; AND I REQUESTED A LOWER ALT AND WAS DENIED. I FLEW ON; ABOVE THE CLOUDS; AT CTLR'S DIRECTION AND CONTINUED TO STATE REQUEST FOR A LOWER ALT. FINALLY; ATC APPROVED TO 7500 FT. I WAS IN IMC FOR APPROX 10 MINS; THROUGH A CLOUD DECK (SEEMED LIKE 2 HRS). I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS APPROX 8900 FT AND CONTINUED S; TO APPROX 40 MI N OF TUCSON. IT LOOKED LIKE BAD WX AHEAD; SO I TURNED 180 DEGS; AND FLEW TO CHANDLER MUNICIPAL; LANDED AND CALLED FSS. I CANCELED THE FLT PLAN TO LA CHOLLA; AND LEFT CHANDLER. I STAYED UNDER 3000 FT AND FLEW TO FALCON FIELD; TURNED NW TO SCOTTSDALE; TURNED NORTHERLY TO DEER VALLEY THEN NW TO PRESCOTT. RETURN TRIP; LANDED; WITH NO PROB. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THIS WAS A MATTER OF NOT HAVING BEEN VERSED ON INFORMING; AND REQUESTING; IN PLT/CTLR COMS. ANALYST COUNSELED PLT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF OFFERING INFO; IN ORDER TO GAIN ASSISTANCE; IF NECESSARY. THIS PLT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE LIMITS OF THE TRACON'S REAL-TIME WX KNOWLEDGE. PLT DID NOT STATE TO ATC; THAT THE ACFT HAD ENTERED INTO IMC; AND THAT RPTR WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THIS PLT IS IN THE WINGS PROFICIENCY PROGRAM; AND WAS FLYING A PIPER ARROW.