Narrative:

While at cruise altitude of 2500 ft MSL, I had just been handed off to sus tower for transition of class D airspace when I noticed a heavy smoke condition at my lower left instrument panel. I declared an emergency and began to run the appropriate checklist. Shortly after starting checklist, the alternator circuit breaker popped and the smoke stopped. I then landed without further incident. At no time was there any 'accident.' ATC was as helpful as possible. There was someone on the tower frequency who did not identify himself that was trying to give advice on the emergency. However, the advice, being unofficial and not accurate, was somewhat distracting. It would be helpful to alert pilots not to offer unrequested advice during an emergency.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A C182 HAS SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT WHILE TRANSITIONING CLASS D AIRSPACE. CHKLIST BEGUN WHEN ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED AND SMOKE STOPPED.

Narrative: WHILE AT CRUISE ALT OF 2500 FT MSL, I HAD JUST BEEN HANDED OFF TO SUS TWR FOR TRANSITION OF CLASS D AIRSPACE WHEN I NOTICED A HVY SMOKE CONDITION AT MY LOWER L INST PANEL. I DECLARED AN EMER AND BEGAN TO RUN THE APPROPRIATE CHKLIST. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING CHKLIST, THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. I THEN LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AT NO TIME WAS THERE ANY 'ACCIDENT.' ATC WAS AS HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE. THERE WAS SOMEONE ON THE TWR FREQ WHO DID NOT IDENT HIMSELF THAT WAS TRYING TO GIVE ADVICE ON THE EMER. HOWEVER, THE ADVICE, BEING UNOFFICIAL AND NOT ACCURATE, WAS SOMEWHAT DISTRACTING. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ALERT PLTS NOT TO OFFER UNREQUESTED ADVICE DURING AN EMER.

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.