Pilot reported alternator failure that resulted in a precautionary landing.

Attributes
ACN	1757303
Time
Date	202008
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	AC Generator/Alternator
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 800 Flight Crew Type 300
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Smelled something burning and alert sounded with low voltage annuciator. Took action by opening window; turning off non-essential electrical and ready to reach for fire estinguisher. Communicated with ATC letting them know about the burning smell and losing battery power. I asked for a climb and direct to ZZZ. Did not officially request priority handling but ATC asked if they should roll out the trucks. Not knowing the full nature of the issue I responded that it was probably a safe precaution in case a fire started. Landed safely with no issues. Postflight revealed that the alternator had seized and the burning smell was the melting of the alternator belt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot reported alternator failure that resulted in a precautionary landing.

Narrative: Smelled something burning and alert sounded with low voltage annuciator. Took action by opening window; turning off non-essential electrical and ready to reach for fire estinguisher. Communicated with ATC letting them know about the burning smell and losing battery power. I asked for a climb and direct to ZZZ. Did not officially request priority handling but ATC asked if they should roll out the trucks. Not knowing the full nature of the issue I responded that it was probably a safe precaution in case a fire started. Landed safely with no issues. Postflight revealed that the alternator had seized and the burning smell was the melting of the alternator belt.

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.