Narrative:

While being vectored for an ILS approach to runway 15 in turbulent conditions; I noticed a flicker in the radio display and a noise coming from the overhead speaker. I suspected electrical failure and called immediately for the gear down. The red 'in-transit' light came on and I saw a flicker of green lights when the entire panel went black. I honestly believed the gear came down. I did consider the emergency gear extension but we had only a small penlight on board; and the gear extension is under the pilot's seat and requires light to do the extension and since we only had 1 penlight and on final to the runway I decided the gear was down and made the decision to land. My primary concern is to land safely. Obviously; I was wrong. I also felt at the time; because my mind was made up regarding the gear; I did not want to change the confign. We could not do a fly-by the tower for they could not see us in the ultra dark night and also had no way to communicate with us. Things I learned with this flight. I have over 4600 hours of instruction time in all makes and models of aircraft. Know in advance all emergency procedures and not have to rely on reading them in the poh with no lights in the airplane. Even though I teach in many airplanes owned by the student; I should not rely on the student to know these procedures. Carry on board a 2-D cell flashlight for proper illumination. Never go on a flight without a handheld radio. The old adage 'it is only a local flight' does not matter. Emergencys could happen at any time and therefore be prepared for these occurrences. In the future; I will be extra vigilant regarding emergency procedures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE24 LANDS GEAR UP FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 15 IN TURBULENT CONDITIONS; I NOTICED A FLICKER IN THE RADIO DISPLAY AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE OVERHEAD SPEAKER. I SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND CALLED IMMEDIATELY FOR THE GEAR DOWN. THE RED 'IN-TRANSIT' LIGHT CAME ON AND I SAW A FLICKER OF GREEN LIGHTS WHEN THE ENTIRE PANEL WENT BLACK. I HONESTLY BELIEVED THE GEAR CAME DOWN. I DID CONSIDER THE EMER GEAR EXTENSION BUT WE HAD ONLY A SMALL PENLIGHT ON BOARD; AND THE GEAR EXTENSION IS UNDER THE PLT'S SEAT AND REQUIRES LIGHT TO DO THE EXTENSION AND SINCE WE ONLY HAD 1 PENLIGHT AND ON FINAL TO THE RWY I DECIDED THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND MADE THE DECISION TO LAND. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS TO LAND SAFELY. OBVIOUSLY; I WAS WRONG. I ALSO FELT AT THE TIME; BECAUSE MY MIND WAS MADE UP REGARDING THE GEAR; I DID NOT WANT TO CHANGE THE CONFIGN. WE COULD NOT DO A FLY-BY THE TWR FOR THEY COULD NOT SEE US IN THE ULTRA DARK NIGHT AND ALSO HAD NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH US. THINGS I LEARNED WITH THIS FLT. I HAVE OVER 4600 HRS OF INSTRUCTION TIME IN ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF ACFT. KNOW IN ADVANCE ALL EMER PROCS AND NOT HAVE TO RELY ON READING THEM IN THE POH WITH NO LIGHTS IN THE AIRPLANE. EVEN THOUGH I TEACH IN MANY AIRPLANES OWNED BY THE STUDENT; I SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE STUDENT TO KNOW THESE PROCS. CARRY ON BOARD A 2-D CELL FLASHLIGHT FOR PROPER ILLUMINATION. NEVER GO ON A FLT WITHOUT A HANDHELD RADIO. THE OLD ADAGE 'IT IS ONLY A LCL FLT' DOES NOT MATTER. EMERS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND THEREFORE BE PREPARED FOR THESE OCCURRENCES. IN THE FUTURE; I WILL BE EXTRA VIGILANT REGARDING EMER PROCS.

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.