Narrative:

Maiden cross country flight, and 2 errors on my part: I encountered below VFR requirements, diverted around, and landed at destination airport. (I ran into poor WX en route and I decided to return by different route, downwind of problem area. The diversion took me over lake michigan, approximately 20-25 mi from mkg, VFR). I was down to 1500 ft and 3 mi visibility. I contacted mkg tower and asked for WX conditions at airport, and south, and was informed it was clear. I decided to continue and 7 mi from airport, heavy snow showers developed with vertigo conditions. For my safety, I requested, or stated I needed to climb through non VFR WX. At approximately 3500 ft, I located clear skies and airport, and landed without incident! My 2ND error involved a misunderstanding as to who could clear me on my 1ST solo cross country flight. My flight instructor wasn't available, so I met with the airport facility manager, who reviewed my flight plan, WX, fuel, etc. He was unaware that this was my 1ST solo flight. (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 hour under the hood, prior to 1ST solo.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 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.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.