Narrative:

I was flying a personal IFR flight when I experienced complete power failure of the electrical system. As a result; I lost all radio communications and navigation capability. When the electrical failure occurred; I was on vxx at 9000 MSL flying an IFR flight. I was completely in the clouds. When I became aware that my radios where no longer working; I turned my transponder to 7600. I made several radio calls to ARTCC to check. I turned off all my radios; accessories etc. I switched off the power to try and recycle things. None of these procedures resulted in any change in the situation.following the rules for loss of communication; I proceeded with the flight plan that I had filed and the last clearance which I had been given. I was able to do this because I had a garmin 496 as a back up device. I did not deviate from what I had filed. I continued at 9000 MSL indicated. I checked the weather at my destination via the 496. It indicated more than 3 miles visibility and slightly over 500 foot ceilings at that time. So; I proceed to toward the airport. When I descended; I did so at a rate of about 350 feet per minute. Checking the weather again; I learned that I had 500 foot ceilings and more than 3 miles visibility. With no ability to let anyone know that I would be deviating from my flight plan; I made the decision that the visibility and ceilings were sufficient for me to make an emergency situation-type landing using the information on my garmin 496. I followed a cautious descent pattern and safely landed on runway xx. After I landed; I learned that ARTCC had notified the local FBO and police. I also learned that homeland security and the air force had been making calls to learn more about this primary target that their radars had picked up. The local FBO operator and I notified each of them. I called ATC and let them know that I was safely on the ground.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 pilot lost all electrical power and; thus; all communications capability while on an IFR flight plan in IMC.

Narrative: I was flying a personal IFR flight when I experienced complete power failure of the electrical system. As a result; I lost all radio communications and navigation capability. When the electrical failure occurred; I was on VXX at 9000 MSL flying an IFR flight. I was completely in the clouds. When I became aware that my radios where no longer working; I turned my transponder to 7600. I made several radio calls to ARTCC to check. I turned off all my radios; accessories etc. I switched off the power to try and recycle things. None of these procedures resulted in any change in the situation.Following the rules for loss of communication; I proceeded with the flight plan that I had filed and the last clearance which I had been given. I was able to do this because I had a Garmin 496 as a back up device. I did not deviate from what I had filed. I continued at 9000 MSL indicated. I checked the weather at my destination via the 496. It indicated more than 3 miles visibility and slightly over 500 foot ceilings at that time. So; I proceed to toward the airport. When I descended; I did so at a rate of about 350 feet per minute. Checking the weather again; I learned that I had 500 foot ceilings and more than 3 miles visibility. With no ability to let anyone know that I would be deviating from my flight plan; I made the decision that the visibility and ceilings were sufficient for me to make an emergency situation-type landing using the information on my Garmin 496. I followed a cautious descent pattern and safely landed on Runway XX. After I landed; I learned that ARTCC had notified the local FBO and police. I also learned that Homeland Security and the Air Force had been making calls to learn more about this primary target that their radars had picked up. The local FBO operator and I notified each of them. I called ATC and let them know that I was safely on the ground.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.