Cessna 340/340A
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 2800; Flight Crew Type 150
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Declared Emergency
Weather
Flying in IMC conditions on an IFR flight plan the aircraft took a lightning strike on the wingtip on the port side. No abnormalities were detected at the time of the strike. Twenty minutes later an unusual smell was detected in the cabin and then white smoke followed which appeared to be originating from underneath the panel on the co-pilot side. An emergency was declared and smoke in the cockpit was reported to the Controller. An emergency descent was performed from 15;000 FT to pattern altitude with the consideration that a cabin fire was to follow. An emergency landing was made without incident.
C340A pilot reported that twenty minutes after taking a lightning strike he noticed smoke in cockpit and cabin; prompting an emergency divert to a nearby airport.