C172 private pilot has smoke in cockpit and diverts to closest airport.

Attributes
ACN	693316
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower tower : sfo.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 190 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	693316
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I departed under part 91 on a personal flight. About 5 mins after departure; on a transition through airspace; I began to notice an odor of something burning. At that point; I began to assess the system and found no anomalies. Approximately 2-3 mins later; I noticed that the odor became stronger. Again I reassessed all system. At that point I noticed a haze in the cockpit. I then contacted tower and requested an immediate clearance to land; for smoke in the cockpit. I was then cleared to land straight-in for runway 5. At this point I shut down everything electrical except the primary communication radio which I was communicating on with tower. The subsequent landing was without incident. Once on the ground; tower asked if I needed any assistance. I replied no not at this time; and requested to taxi to GA parking; where I was met by a fire truck. The fire man looked at the plane and stated there was no fire; but a noticeable odor. After examination of the back of the instruments; I noticed that the landing and taxi light switches had started to melt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PVT PLT HAS SMOKE IN COCKPIT AND DIVERTS TO CLOSEST ARPT.

Narrative: I DEPARTED UNDER PART 91 ON A PERSONAL FLT. ABOUT 5 MINS AFTER DEP; ON A TRANSITION THROUGH AIRSPACE; I BEGAN TO NOTICE AN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. AT THAT POINT; I BEGAN TO ASSESS THE SYS AND FOUND NO ANOMALIES. APPROX 2-3 MINS LATER; I NOTICED THAT THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER. AGAIN I REASSESSED ALL SYS. AT THAT POINT I NOTICED A HAZE IN THE COCKPIT. I THEN CONTACTED TWR AND REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE CLRNC TO LAND; FOR SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. I WAS THEN CLRED TO LAND STRAIGHT-IN FOR RWY 5. AT THIS POINT I SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL EXCEPT THE PRIMARY COM RADIO WHICH I WAS COMMUNICATING ON WITH TWR. THE SUBSEQUENT LNDG WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT. ONCE ON THE GND; TWR ASKED IF I NEEDED ANY ASSISTANCE. I REPLIED NO NOT AT THIS TIME; AND REQUESTED TO TAXI TO GA PARKING; WHERE I WAS MET BY A FIRE TRUCK. THE FIRE MAN LOOKED AT THE PLANE AND STATED THERE WAS NO FIRE; BUT A NOTICEABLE ODOR. AFTER EXAMINATION OF THE BACK OF THE INSTS; I NOTICED THAT THE LNDG AND TAXI LIGHT SWITCHES HAD STARTED TO MELT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.