Narrative:

Flight was a cross country to position a homebuilt single seat aircraft. Aircraft was not ever intended to be flown at night. (Flashlight is therefore not included as cockpit equipment.) flight was delayed for several reasons and landing would not be before dark. I continued anyway knowing WX was excellent and that I had a full moon. As it got darker, I discovered that cockpit lighting was inoperative. I told ZTL that I had a problem and would not be able to change frequencys. I suggested that we start using 121.5. I was told to stand by. After approximately 10 mins, ZTL gave me a frequency change to a different sector. I responded that I would attempt 1 frequency change and again suggested 121.5. At this point I declared an emergency. It was now dark enough that I could not see heading, altitude, airspeed or power instruments. I also could not read my kneeboard. ZTL and rdu approach gave vectors (ie, 30 degrees right, now back left 10 degrees) to fdu. They also advised of altitude during the descent using mode C. Tower gave altitude calls on base to final turn until VASI lights were in sight. Landing was uneventful. I will in the future carry some kind of emergency lighting that can be used in an aircraft without having to be held. Aircraft requires that pilot not let go of stick and also must wear an oxygen mask.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATP RATED PLT FLYING A GLIDER AT NIGHT DISCOVERS THE COCKPIT LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND SUBSEQUENTLY DECLARED AN EMER AND ASSISTANCE FROM ATC.

Narrative: FLT WAS A XCOUNTRY TO POS A HOMEBUILT SINGLE SEAT ACFT. ACFT WAS NOT EVER INTENDED TO BE FLOWN AT NIGHT. (FLASHLIGHT IS THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED AS COCKPIT EQUIP.) FLT WAS DELAYED FOR SEVERAL REASONS AND LNDG WOULD NOT BE BEFORE DARK. I CONTINUED ANYWAY KNOWING WX WAS EXCELLENT AND THAT I HAD A FULL MOON. AS IT GOT DARKER, I DISCOVERED THAT COCKPIT LIGHTING WAS INOP. I TOLD ZTL THAT I HAD A PROB AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE FREQS. I SUGGESTED THAT WE START USING 121.5. I WAS TOLD TO STAND BY. AFTER APPROX 10 MINS, ZTL GAVE ME A FREQ CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT SECTOR. I RESPONDED THAT I WOULD ATTEMPT 1 FREQ CHANGE AND AGAIN SUGGESTED 121.5. AT THIS POINT I DECLARED AN EMER. IT WAS NOW DARK ENOUGH THAT I COULD NOT SEE HDG, ALT, AIRSPD OR PWR INSTS. I ALSO COULD NOT READ MY KNEEBOARD. ZTL AND RDU APCH GAVE VECTORS (IE, 30 DEGS R, NOW BACK L 10 DEGS) TO FDU. THEY ALSO ADVISED OF ALT DURING THE DSCNT USING MODE C. TWR GAVE ALT CALLS ON BASE TO FINAL TURN UNTIL VASI LIGHTS WERE IN SIGHT. LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. I WILL IN THE FUTURE CARRY SOME KIND OF EMER LIGHTING THAT CAN BE USED IN AN ACFT WITHOUT HAVING TO BE HELD. ACFT REQUIRES THAT PLT NOT LET GO OF STICK AND ALSO MUST WEAR AN OXYGEN MASK.

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.