PA28 pilot reported an alternator failure that caused his glass instrument panel to shut off. He div...

Attributes
ACN	1388982
Time
Date	201609
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	AC Generator/Alternator
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 9 Flight Crew Total 162 Flight Crew Type 66
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

I was flying northeast heading when my glass instrument panel shut off; I saw that my alternator breaker had tripped. I reset; but it failed to stay engaged. I flew for another 15 minutes but my battery was draining fast. I headed towards ZZZ in case I had to land. Knowing that I needed a towered airport with emergency equipment in case things went bad. At 25 miles from the airport; I called the tower and relayed that I wished to land and that I was about to lose my communications. I was told to [enter] left base for runway 22 and call at the five mile mark if I was able; and if not to look for the red or green beam from the tower. The battery was drained; I had no airspeed; altimeter; or radio long before I reached the five mile marker. I was under considerable stress and was keying on looking for the beam. On my descent I had a mental lapse and began a direct approach for runway 4. When I was within a half mile; I realized my error and immediately corrected and began a base leg for runway 22. I received the green beacon and successfully landed. I am currently seeking further dual flight instruction to work on emergency procedures and situational awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot reported an alternator failure that caused his glass instrument panel to shut off. He diverted to a nearby towered airport and reported; but the battery failed before entering the traffic pattern. He initially set up to land opposite to the direction the Tower had indicated; but corrected to the proper pattern a half a mile out.

Narrative: I was flying NE heading when my glass instrument panel shut off; I saw that my alternator breaker had tripped. I reset; but it failed to stay engaged. I flew for another 15 minutes but my battery was draining fast. I headed towards ZZZ in case I had to land. Knowing that I needed a towered airport with emergency equipment in case things went bad. At 25 miles from the airport; I called the tower and relayed that I wished to land and that I was about to lose my communications. I was told to [enter] left base for runway 22 and call at the five mile mark if I was able; and if not to look for the red or green beam from the tower. The battery was drained; I had no airspeed; altimeter; or radio long before I reached the five mile marker. I was under considerable stress and was keying on looking for the beam. On my descent I had a mental lapse and began a direct approach for runway 4. When I was within a half mile; I realized my error and immediately corrected and began a base leg for runway 22. I received the green beacon and successfully landed. I am currently seeking further dual flight instruction to work on emergency procedures and situational awareness.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.