Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 56; Flight Crew Total 2004; Flight Crew Type 1973
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors
Shortly after departure; electrical power was off and on. About 8 miles west of destination; lost all electrical power and could not change radio frequencies (stuck on destination ATIS). Squawked 7700. Continued flying to destination. Ducked under approaching scud and realized we were directly above runway at destination. Executed 180 degree turn to enter left downwind for runway in use. Executed approach; land; and taxi to hangar. Played with landing light switch (and others) at hangar. When landing light switch was toggled; power was restored. Called Tower to explain what happened. Controller never saw us on radar. Used on-board flashlight to monitor airspeed and altitude. Need to get switches checked for electrical problem.
C182 pilot reports departing on a short (20 NM) night flight and experiencing electrical problems. The flight is continued ducking under low clouds until arriving directly over the airport at 1;000 AGL with no lights or radio.