Narrative:

IFR flight plan from lou to hsv. While at cruise at 6000 ft, had a total electrical failure, could not remedy. Squawked 7600 and made a 180 degree return (descent to 5000 ft) to louisville. Attempted contact with louisville and relay with other aircraft. No response. Was in VMC, above a solid overcast. Decided to proceed back to louisville due to better WX, hsv forecast 1-3 mi mist and 1200 ft broken, louisville much better (MVFR), and noticed it was breaking up (the ceiling) on climb out. After finding a break in the overcast, descended through, found I65 and followed north toward louisville, en route transited class C airspace at standiford (sdf). Landing was uneventful. Postflt by miami, found broken alternator ground wire.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON IFR FLT PLAN, A C172 HAS A BROKEN GND WIRE FROM THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURE. PLT IMC DSNDS THROUGH HOLE IN CLOUDS TO RETURN TO LAND AT DEP ARPT.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN FROM LOU TO HSV. WHILE AT CRUISE AT 6000 FT, HAD A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, COULD NOT REMEDY. SQUAWKED 7600 AND MADE A 180 DEG RETURN (DSCNT TO 5000 FT) TO LOUISVILLE. ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH LOUISVILLE AND RELAY WITH OTHER ACFT. NO RESPONSE. WAS IN VMC, ABOVE A SOLID OVCST. DECIDED TO PROCEED BACK TO LOUISVILLE DUE TO BETTER WX, HSV FORECAST 1-3 MI MIST AND 1200 FT BROKEN, LOUISVILLE MUCH BETTER (MVFR), AND NOTICED IT WAS BREAKING UP (THE CEILING) ON CLBOUT. AFTER FINDING A BREAK IN THE OVCST, DSNDED THROUGH, FOUND I65 AND FOLLOWED N TOWARD LOUISVILLE, ENRTE TRANSITED CLASS C AIRSPACE AT STANDIFORD (SDF). LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. POSTFLT BY MIAMI, FOUND BROKEN ALTERNATOR GND WIRE.

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.