EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Human Factors
Smell source unknown.  Smell was confirmed by all crewmembers and passengers to be a mild but persistent electrical or plastic smell and not like anything else such as fuel; deice fluid; oil; etc..About 2 minutes after departing at about 5;000 feet; mild but persistent burning electrical or plastic smell noted in cabin and cockpit that did not dissipate. Intent was to get the aircraft on the ground As Soon As Possible (ASAP).  Was turned by ATC to a right downwind from 5;000 feet on departure and was descended for an immediate visual right pattern.  As captain flying; momentarily lost direct visual contact with the airfield in a right descending turn from downwind to base.  First Officer (FO) kept airport in sight.  Leveled off on base at about 1;000 AGL after reacquiring the runway and determining ATC had put us on wider than perceived downwind and that the descent initiated for a normal landing below 1;500 AGL was premature.  Turned to final at about 4 miles; configured; and landed normally with flaps 45 without further incident. Burning smell dissipated prior to landing.  Airfield fire crew inspected the aircraft on the Charlie Pad and all parties determined it was safe to taxi to the gate with airfield fire crew following the aircraft.  Deplaned without further incident.Recommend crews do more hand flying for proficiency and that in [training] once every other cycle do an entire visual pattern from takeoff to landing to highlight visual miscues that occur at night that can cause crews to inadvertently descend into darker rural and suburban terrain while focusing on brighter areas; lights; and airport environment at night.
An EMB145 Captain and flight attendants report smelling electrical fumes in the cabin on departure. They return to land and upon the night visual approach the Captain allows the aircraft to go below 1;000 feet AGL before turning final.