PA28 pilot had smoke in the cockpit.

Attributes
ACN	446156
Time
Date	199908
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl single value : 7200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ash.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 33 flight time total : 440 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	446156
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical airspace violation : entry other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

In cruise at 7200 ft MSL on the mht VOR 165 degree radial, 6 NM from the beacon, I noticed a burning type odor and saw smoke emerging from behind my instrument panel. I immediately determined that the ash airport was the closest, turned towards it, and began to descend. I could clearly see the airport. I radioed the ash tower directly and told them I had smoke in the cockpit. They gave me clearance to the airport. I then indicated I would be turning off all electrical equipment including radios which I subsequently did. My direct route emergency descent with no radios caused me to enter the mht class C airspace without a clearance and without talking to approach control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT HAD SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT.

Narrative: IN CRUISE AT 7200 FT MSL ON THE MHT VOR 165 DEG RADIAL, 6 NM FROM THE BEACON, I NOTICED A BURNING TYPE ODOR AND SAW SMOKE EMERGING FROM BEHIND MY INST PANEL. I IMMEDIATELY DETERMINED THAT THE ASH ARPT WAS THE CLOSEST, TURNED TOWARDS IT, AND BEGAN TO DSND. I COULD CLRLY SEE THE ARPT. I RADIOED THE ASH TWR DIRECTLY AND TOLD THEM I HAD SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. THEY GAVE ME CLRNC TO THE ARPT. I THEN INDICATED I WOULD BE TURNING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIP INCLUDING RADIOS WHICH I SUBSEQUENTLY DID. MY DIRECT RTE EMER DSCNT WITH NO RADIOS CAUSED ME TO ENTER THE MHT CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT A CLRNC AND WITHOUT TALKING TO APCH CTL.

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.