After departing a remote alaska airport a C172's alternator did not charge the battery so the pilot;...

Attributes
ACN	945153
Time
Date	201104
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	FAI.TRACON
State Reference	AK
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	AC Generator/Alternator
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 255 Flight Crew Type 210
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

The pilot took off from a remote airport with a low battery from having left the master switch on during ground operations. Radios were weak during climb out. During cruise; it became apparent that the battery was not being charged by the alternator. The pilot made the decision upon complete electrical failure to proceed to an enroute; which was a lighted airport with an appropriate repair facility. The pilot used a hand held radio to call approach when she was twenty NM to the south. She alerted approach to her electrical failure and received clearance to land. Landing after dark occurred without incident. The pilot had night currency and had only the week before completed her night cross country in preparation for her commercial check ride.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After departing a remote Alaska airport a C172's alternator did not charge the battery so the pilot; with a hand held radio; diverted to an enroute airport for repairs.

Narrative: The pilot took off from a remote airport with a low battery from having left the master switch on during ground operations. Radios were weak during climb out. During cruise; it became apparent that the battery was not being charged by the alternator. The pilot made the decision upon complete electrical failure to proceed to an enroute; which was a lighted airport with an appropriate repair facility. The pilot used a hand held radio to call Approach when she was twenty NM to the south. She alerted Approach to her electrical failure and received clearance to land. Landing after dark occurred without incident. The pilot had night currency and had only the week before completed her night cross country in preparation for her commercial check ride.

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.

After departing a remote alaska airport a C172's alternator did not charge the battery so the pilot; with a hand held radio; diverted to an enroute airport for repairs.