What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot departed kjnx at 18:27 z for an IFR flight to kfxe. Picked up the IFR clearance with seymore johnston and handed to Washington center and continued climb from 10,000 to cleared 23,000. At about 16,000 feet saw smoke in the cockpit from the floor near the rudder pedals, then flames visible for a brief moment. The pilot used the cockpit fire extinguisher to put out the flames.
The pilot declared emergency with Washington, who indicated an airfield to the right at about 5 miles. Started a descent but weather was blocking the airfield so continued decent and located Pope army airfield, Washington handed pilot to Pope tower. The pilot landed without further issues, batteries were disconnected and aircraft was hangared.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT DEPARTED KJNX AT 18:27 Z FOR AN IFR FLIGHT TO KFXE. PICKED UP THE IFR CLEARANCE WITH SEYMORE JOHNSTON AND HANDED TO WASHINGTON CENTER AND CONTINUED CLIMB FROM 10,000 TO CLEARED 23,000. AT ABOUT 16,000 FEET SAW SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT FROM THE FLOOR NEAR THE RUDDER PEDALS, THEN FLAMES VISIBLE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE PILOT USED THE COCKPIT FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES.
THE PILOT DECLARED EMERGENCY WITH WASHINGTON, WHO INDICATED AN AIRFIELD TO THE RIGHT AT ABOUT 5 MILES. STARTED A DESCENT BUT WEATHER WAS BLOCKING THE AIRFIELD SO CONTINUED DECENT AND LOCATED POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, WASHINGTON HANDED PILOT TO POPE TOWER. THE PILOT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER ISSUES, BATTERIES WERE DISCONNECTED AND AIRCRAFT WAS HANGARED.