Editor’s note: The following is a first-person account of an in-flight emergency. It was originally posted by the pilot, David Fill, to an internet-based pilot’s forum and has been adapted forAviation Safetywith his permission.
Smoke In The Cockpit!
I had an eventful flight the other night. The day before, I had picked up my Beech Model 58P Pressurized Baron from its annual inspection and some extensive panel work at a facility in Massachusetts. After the paperwork was complete, I did my usual careful post-maintenance inspection and then test-flew it around the pattern several times before putting it away in my hangar back at its base
Key Takeaways:
- During an IMC night flight, a pilot encountered smoke in the cabin of his Beech Baron, caused by a pinched wire on an instrument light that shorted out after recent panel work.
- The pilot effectively managed the emergency by immediately killing electrical power, initiating a descent, communicating with ATC, and restoring essential systems to execute a safe landing at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
- The incident highlighted the critical value of recent emergency procedure training, the potential for post-maintenance issues, and the complexities of handling electrical fires in night/IMC conditions.
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