A C172 in cruise diverted due to complete loss of electrical power.

Attributes
ACN	375499
Time
Date	199707
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : teb
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : teb tower : pbi
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 72 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	375499
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I left caldwell at about XA30 local flying 090 degrees, then sbound hudson river up to verrazano bridge. Over the bridge at about XB00 local, I decided to change the frequency to newark tower requesting transition back to caldwell when I experienced loss of electrical power. All radios, lights, and all other equipment that requires electrical power shut off. I was near newark airport, as a class B, I would never go there, and so I decided to go northbound on the river in order to go back to cdw. With all the necessary precautions I got the golf course right next to the alpine tower check point. As I turned left, I turned to get on teterboro, I scanned for traffic, and I had my transponder on 7600, I was not sure if they had gotten my signal, but since the area was so clear, and after seeing that was safe for landing, I decided to do so. I could not fly by the tower in order for them to see me because this incident occurred at night. They would not be able to spot me, since all of my lights were off. I landed safely on runway 24, and as teterboro's security approachs me I reported to them of what has happened. And then I called the tower in order to report the reasons for my landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 IN CRUISE DIVERTED DUE TO COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL PWR.

Narrative: I LEFT CALDWELL AT ABOUT XA30 LCL FLYING 090 DEGS, THEN SBOUND HUDSON RIVER UP TO VERRAZANO BRIDGE. OVER THE BRIDGE AT ABOUT XB00 LCL, I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE FREQ TO NEWARK TWR REQUESTING TRANSITION BACK TO CALDWELL WHEN I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL PWR. ALL RADIOS, LIGHTS, AND ALL OTHER EQUIP THAT REQUIRES ELECTRICAL PWR SHUT OFF. I WAS NEAR NEWARK ARPT, AS A CLASS B, I WOULD NEVER GO THERE, AND SO I DECIDED TO GO NBOUND ON THE RIVER IN ORDER TO GO BACK TO CDW. WITH ALL THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS I GOT THE GOLF COURSE RIGHT NEXT TO THE ALPINE TWR CHK POINT. AS I TURNED L, I TURNED TO GET ON TETERBORO, I SCANNED FOR TFC, AND I HAD MY XPONDER ON 7600, I WAS NOT SURE IF THEY HAD GOTTEN MY SIGNAL, BUT SINCE THE AREA WAS SO CLR, AND AFTER SEEING THAT WAS SAFE FOR LNDG, I DECIDED TO DO SO. I COULD NOT FLY BY THE TWR IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SEE ME BECAUSE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT. THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SPOT ME, SINCE ALL OF MY LIGHTS WERE OFF. I LANDED SAFELY ON RWY 24, AND AS TETERBORO'S SECURITY APCHS ME I RPTED TO THEM OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED. AND THEN I CALLED THE TWR IN ORDER TO RPT THE REASONS FOR MY LNDG.

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.