What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) At about 40 NM north of rdu airport, at 17,000 altitude, pilot noted smoke from behind the instrument panel. Panel pulled away and smoke developed to flames from the electrical connection to the pilot's windshield. Pilot requested descent. ATC unable. Pilot declared emergency, and commenced descent and got vectors to rdu ILS. Pilot got the emergency checklist and secured the windshield heat as indicated in the checklist. The flames then dwindled and went out. The pilot shot the ILS approach to the rdu airport where an uneventful landing was made. Taxied to the ramp. Firemen checked behind panel and avionics for fire or other damage. None found. Operator is to have windshield replaced and ship old one to NTSB as requested by them.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AT ABOUT 40 NM NORTH OF RDU AIRPORT, AT 17,000 ALTITUDE, PILOT NOTED SMOKE FROM BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PANEL PULLED AWAY AND SMOKE DEVELOPED TO FLAMES FROM THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE PILOT'S WINDSHIELD. PILOT REQUESTED DESCENT. ATC UNABLE. PILOT DECLARED EMERGENCY, AND COMMENCED DESCENT AND GOT VECTORS TO RDU ILS. PILOT GOT THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST AND SECURED THE WINDSHIELD HEAT AS INDICATED IN THE CHECKLIST. THE FLAMES THEN DWINDLED AND WENT OUT. THE PILOT SHOT THE ILS APPROACH TO THE RDU AIRPORT WHERE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING WAS MADE. TAXIED TO THE RAMP. FIREMEN CHECKED BEHIND PANEL AND AVIONICS FOR FIRE OR OTHER DAMAGE. NONE FOUND. OPERATOR IS TO HAVE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND SHIP OLD ONE TO NTSB AS REQUESTED BY THEM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.