Narrative:

Prior to takeoff for night currency practice in the pattern; the airplane had a normal run-up and systems check. After takeoff; the interior lights dimmed at about 400 ft AGL and I realized that my alternator was going. The radio started to malfunction by the time I turned crosswind. By the time I turned from crosswind to the downwind for runway 18; I had a total electrical failure; no lights or radio. The tower had initially asked me to call out a midfield downwind for runway 18 on left traffic. I was not able to reach them after turning downwind. As I crossed the midfield point; I noticed an airplane coming toward me from the right side and below. He passed below and behind me by only several hundred feet. He was coming in for a midfield crosswind for right traffic on runway 18. I kept him in sight and extended my downwind to follow him in on final. After landing; I took the first available turn off and cleared the hold short line. I then called the tower on my cell phone to report what had happened. They asked if I needed assistance; I did not; so they cleared me to taxi back to my hangar. In hindsight; the only thing that I can think of that may have helped me would be to have a backup hand held radio in the cockpit in case of a radio failure; especially at night.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The pilot of a Piper Arrow reported the loss of all electrical power shortly after takeoff. While flying the downwind leg with no lights or radios; a near mid-air collision was experienced.

Narrative: Prior to takeoff for night currency practice in the pattern; the airplane had a normal run-up and systems check. After takeoff; the interior lights dimmed at about 400 ft AGL and I realized that my alternator was going. The radio started to malfunction by the time I turned crosswind. By the time I turned from crosswind to the downwind for runway 18; I had a total electrical failure; no lights or radio. The tower had initially asked me to call out a midfield downwind for runway 18 on left traffic. I was not able to reach them after turning downwind. As I crossed the midfield point; I noticed an airplane coming toward me from the right side and below. He passed below and behind me by only several hundred feet. He was coming in for a midfield crosswind for right traffic on runway 18. I kept him in sight and extended my downwind to follow him in on final. After landing; I took the first available turn off and cleared the hold short line. I then called the tower on my cell phone to report what had happened. They asked if I needed assistance; I did not; so they cleared me to taxi back to my hangar. In hindsight; the only thing that I can think of that may have helped me would be to have a backup hand held radio in the cockpit in case of a radio failure; especially at night.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.