Mooney M20D pilot has an electrical malfunction while en route.

Attributes
ACN	717118
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sgj.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : jax.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 D Master
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 410 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	717118
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I conducted a VFR flight with flight following from bct to sgj. About 20 mins from sgj I began to suffer a progressive electrical failure. Once I noticed the problem I tried to isolate the bad circuit by cycling my electrical equipment on and off. I shut down all unnecessary equipment to save power like my panel GPS and my electronic fuel flow indicator. Once I cycled the navigation lights off; then back on; I lost all electrical power. I set up my hand held radio and contacted approach advising them of the failure. Then I checked my breakers and found none to be tripped. Approach asked if I wanted to declare an emergency; but I declined because the airplane has manual gear and flaps and the engine was showing no signs of distress. I decided sgj was the most reasonable place to land due to its proximity; active control tower; and available emergency services. Upon reaching sgj I made a full stop landing which was safe and uneventful then I contacted the tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MOONEY M20D PLT HAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WHILE ENRTE.

Narrative: I CONDUCTED A VFR FLT WITH FLT FOLLOWING FROM BCT TO SGJ. ABOUT 20 MINS FROM SGJ I BEGAN TO SUFFER A PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. ONCE I NOTICED THE PROB I TRIED TO ISOLATE THE BAD CIRCUIT BY CYCLING MY ELECTRICAL EQUIP ON AND OFF. I SHUT DOWN ALL UNNECESSARY EQUIP TO SAVE PWR LIKE MY PANEL GPS AND MY ELECTRONIC FUEL FLOW INDICATOR. ONCE I CYCLED THE NAV LIGHTS OFF; THEN BACK ON; I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR. I SET UP MY HAND HELD RADIO AND CONTACTED APCH ADVISING THEM OF THE FAILURE. THEN I CHKED MY BREAKERS AND FOUND NONE TO BE TRIPPED. APCH ASKED IF I WANTED TO DECLARE AN EMER; BUT I DECLINED BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE HAS MANUAL GEAR AND FLAPS AND THE ENG WAS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF DISTRESS. I DECIDED SGJ WAS THE MOST REASONABLE PLACE TO LAND DUE TO ITS PROX; ACTIVE CTL TWR; AND AVAILABLE EMER SVCS. UPON REACHING SGJ I MADE A FULL STOP LNDG WHICH WAS SAFE AND UNEVENTFUL THEN I CONTACTED THE TWR.

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.