Copilot mistakes static discharge for a lightning strike.

Attributes
ACN	128666
Time
Date	198911
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : roc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : roc tower : lga
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 510
ASRS Report	128666
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	128661
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While in the approach phase for landing on runway 22 in roc, we encountered statis discharge. This created a brilliant flash of light, which the copilot presumed to be a lightning strike. He mistakenly indicated to roc approach control that 'I think we had a lightning strike.' after landing the aircraft was inspected and checked, but no signs of damage were found. The aircraft was subsequently flown to syr west/O incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COPLT MISTAKES STATIC DISCHARGE FOR A LIGHTNING STRIKE.

Narrative: WHILE IN THE APCH PHASE FOR LNDG ON RWY 22 IN ROC, WE ENCOUNTERED STATIS DISCHARGE. THIS CREATED A BRILLIANT FLASH OF LIGHT, WHICH THE COPLT PRESUMED TO BE A LIGHTNING STRIKE. HE MISTAKENLY INDICATED TO ROC APCH CTL THAT 'I THINK WE HAD A LIGHTNING STRIKE.' AFTER LNDG THE ACFT WAS INSPECTED AND CHKED, BUT NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE WERE FOUND. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FLOWN TO SYR W/O INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.