STUDENT PLT OF PIPER 180 LIVES THROUGH 2 IMC ENCOUNTERS DURING FLT TO 30A.

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ON APR/XA/99 AT APPROX XB00 HRS; I TOOK OFF FROM (20GA) STOCKMAR ARPT. I RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AT APPROX XA00 HRS WHICH INDICATED VMC FROM 20GA TO 30A (MEADOWLAKE ARPT) IN KINGSTON; TN. AFTER TKOF; I FOUND THE CEILING TO BE CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN EXPECTED AND RPTED. BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LCL TERRAIN; I ELECTED TO CLB INTO IMC TO A HIGHER AND SAFER ALT. AFTER DOING SO; I WENT TO 121.5 FREQ AND ADVISED ZTL OF MY SIT AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. I WAS DIRECTED TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER FREQ AND WAS ASSIGNED A SQUAWK CODE. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 7500 FT FOR AN ON TOP VFR CONDITION. DURING THE CLB; I ADVISED CTR TO FIND ME A VFR CONDITION ARPT TO LAND AT ASAP. I ALSO ADVISED CTR OF MY ORIGINAL DEST AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHK TO SEE IF VMC EXISTED. I FOUND VFR AT 9000 FT WHERE I LEVELED OFF AND WAITED FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. I PROCEEDED ON COURSE TO MY DEST OF KINGSTON; TN. CTR ADVISED ME OF VMC IN HUNTSVILLE; AL; AND KNOXVILLE; TN. THEY ALSO EXISTED AT 30A. WITH THE HELP OF CTR; I ELECTED TO PROCEED TO 30A WHICH WAS AS CLOSE OR CLOSER THAN OTHER VMC LOCATIONS. I WAS HANDED OFF TO KNOXVILLE APCH WHO IN TURN DIRECTED ME TO 30A WHERE ONCE AGAIN I MOMENTARILY ENTERED IMC DURING THE DSCNT. WHEN THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT; I TERMINATED RADAR SVC AND LANDED.