We're talking here about a 150-200 hour pilot with no instrument training
other than that required for the PP
intentionally launching into weather that some new IFR ticket holders would
have the sense to avoid.

Being at about that level of experience myself, I can't imagine anyone being
tempted to try this without the very accurate position information provided
by the GPS. I'm sure people did it with Loran, and some even with just
gauges but I bet there were a lot less of them and they didn't get away with
it as long. There is something very seductive about seeing that little
airplane symbol on a full color map.

I'm also pretty sure that, if he weren't flying something as stable as a
Skyhawk, I'd have already read the account of his last flight.
--
Roger Long