An small aircraft had an electrical failure at night near the dca TCA.

Attributes
ACN	222133
Time
Date	199209
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iad airport : cgs
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 276 flight time type : 73
ASRS Report	222133
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I had begun to experience electrical system problems southeast at the martinsburg VOR. I called dulles approach at that point because I wanted to return to W32, the aircraft's home base, but did not want to use the VFR corridors through the TCA. The controller gave me a squawk code, and I continued on my course closer to washington. I began to descend and called dulles approach, but got no response. I called again using the handheld radio, and told the controller I was having problems and using a handheld, which the controller acknowledged. After several more calls, the controller was not responding. By this time, I was under the inner ring of the TCA and was able to spot familiar landmarks. I followed the beltway around to college park airport. I fly an airplane based there, and knew the field well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AT NIGHT NEAR THE DCA TCA.

Narrative: I HAD BEGUN TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL SYS PROBLEMS SE AT THE MARTINSBURG VOR. I CALLED DULLES APCH AT THAT POINT BECAUSE I WANTED TO RETURN TO W32, THE ACFT'S HOME BASE, BUT DID NOT WANT TO USE THE VFR CORRIDORS THROUGH THE TCA. THE CTLR GAVE ME A SQUAWK CODE, AND I CONTINUED ON MY COURSE CLOSER TO WASHINGTON. I BEGAN TO DSND AND CALLED DULLES APCH, BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. I CALLED AGAIN USING THE HANDHELD RADIO, AND TOLD THE CTLR I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS AND USING A HANDHELD, WHICH THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED. AFTER SEVERAL MORE CALLS, THE CTLR WAS NOT RESPONDING. BY THIS TIME, I WAS UNDER THE INNER RING OF THE TCA AND WAS ABLE TO SPOT FAMILIAR LANDMARKS. I FOLLOWED THE BELTWAY AROUND TO COLLEGE PARK ARPT. I FLY AN AIRPLANE BASED THERE, AND KNEW THE FIELD WELL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.