Night Flight and Landing
A pilot reported experiencing a total electrical failure while conducting a night cross-country flight. Despite the failure, the pilot was able to land the airplane without incident.
Taxiway Excursion
During taxi on an unlit taxiway, the pilot lost sight of the centerline stripe. The airplane subsequently departed the taxiway and went down an embankment.
Pilot's Comments
The airport night manager stated that the pilot told him he would "turn on the navigation lights, if necessary," to warn other airplanes.
Postaccident Inspection
A postaccident inspection revealed that when the master switch was turned on, all electrical components functioned normally. A specific gravity check indicated the battery was fully charged.
Hobbs and Tachometer Readings
According to the operator's records, the Hobbs meter and tachometer registered 65.9 and 3903.3, respectively, when the pilot checked the airplane out. At the accident site, the Hobbs meter and tachometer registered 67.6 and 3905.1, respectively, representing a Hobbs meter difference of 1.7 hours and a tachometer difference of 1.8 hours.
Operator's Assessment
The operator said he believed the pilot had turned off the master switch in an attempt to save on rental charges. He had also received reports from other renter pilots who said the pilot had bragged about saving money by turning off the master switch.
FAA Inspector's Observation
An FAA inspector said that, based on the point where the aircraft departed the taxiway and its point of impact, taxi speed was excessive.