Narrative:

We were in cruise over the north atlantic. At approximately xa:30Z; we noticed a smoke odor on the flight deck. Approximately 3 to 4 minutes later we saw smoke coming from the captain's instrument panel. We donned oxygen masks and began emergency procedures for smoke elimination. We established contact with gander center and were given a descent to 6000 ft. We began an emergency descent and proceeded to ZZZZ. We were given vectors for a visual approach to runway 29. Approach and landing were normal. We stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency personnel. With their clearance; we taxied to an open area on the ramp where the interior of the aircraft was inspected. The smoke had dissipated about 3 to 4 minutes after it began with no further occurrences. After the inspection was complete; we were towed to the gate. The flight was cancelled and the passenger were flown to ZZZ on another aircraft. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the smoke had dissipated 3 to 4 minutes after the sighting and no repeat odors or smoke were noted. When on the ground; contract technicians opened the instrument panels and inspected the wiring and components behind the panels and nothing was found. The flight was then cancelled and carrier technicians were sent to again check for the source of the smoke. After a thorough check of the wiring and components; the only thing found was a failed fluorescent lamp in the dual light fixture under the glareshield.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300ER IN CRUISE AT FL320 DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE FROM THE CAPT'S INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Narrative: WE WERE IN CRUISE OVER THE N ATLANTIC. AT APPROX XA:30Z; WE NOTICED A SMOKE ODOR ON THE FLT DECK. APPROX 3 TO 4 MINUTES LATER WE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAPT'S INSTRUMENT PANEL. WE DONNED OXYGEN MASKS AND BEGAN EMER PROCS FOR SMOKE ELIMINATION. WE ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH GANDER CTR AND WERE GIVEN A DSCNT TO 6000 FT. WE BEGAN AN EMER DSCNT AND PROCEEDED TO ZZZZ. WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 29. APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. WE STOPPED ON THE RWY FOR AN INSPECTION BY EMER PERSONNEL. WITH THEIR CLRNC; WE TAXIED TO AN OPEN AREA ON THE RAMP WHERE THE INTERIOR OF THE ACFT WAS INSPECTED. THE SMOKE HAD DISSIPATED ABOUT 3 TO 4 MINUTES AFTER IT BEGAN WITH NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. AFTER THE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETE; WE WERE TOWED TO THE GATE. THE FLT WAS CANCELLED AND THE PAX WERE FLOWN TO ZZZ ON ANOTHER ACFT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE SMOKE HAD DISSIPATED 3 TO 4 MINUTES AFTER THE SIGHTING AND NO REPEAT ODORS OR SMOKE WERE NOTED. WHEN ON THE GND; CONTRACT TECHNICIANS OPENED THE INSTRUMENT PANELS AND INSPECTED THE WIRING AND COMPONENTS BEHIND THE PANELS AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE FLT WAS THEN CANCELLED AND CARRIER TECHNICIANS WERE SENT TO AGAIN CHECK FOR THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. AFTER A THOROUGH CHECK OF THE WIRING AND COMPONENTS; THE ONLY THING FOUND WAS A FAILED FLUORESCENT LAMP IN THE DUAL LIGHT FIXTURE UNDER THE GLARESHIELD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.