Loose wires in cockpit start to arc, so flight crew of small transport lands at srq as a precaution.

Attributes
ACN	342225
Time
Date	199607
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : srq
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	342225
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

At FL180 our cigarette lighter fell loose behind the instrument panel and was arcing. Avionics fuse blew and master had to be turned off. With ground clearance switch, I requested direct srq and landed without incident. Center was very slow in responding to my requests so I am not sure if I was cleared as requested.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOOSE WIRES IN COCKPIT START TO ARC, SO FLC OF SMT LANDS AT SRQ AS A PRECAUTION.

Narrative: AT FL180 OUR CIGARETTE LIGHTER FELL LOOSE BEHIND THE INST PANEL AND WAS ARCING. AVIONICS FUSE BLEW AND MASTER HAD TO BE TURNED OFF. WITH GND CLRNC SWITCH, I REQUESTED DIRECT SRQ AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. CTR WAS VERY SLOW IN RESPONDING TO MY REQUESTS SO I AM NOT SURE IF I WAS CLRED AS REQUESTED.

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.