C172 pilot and co-pilot reported complete electrical failure at night during cruise causing loss of communication capability. Flight diverted to the closest suitable airport.
Synopsis
C172 pilot and co-pilot reported complete electrical failure at night during cruise causing loss of communication capability. Flight diverted to the closest suitable airport.
Narrative
While enroute from ZZZ to ZZZ1 around XA45 my GPS gave a warning on the screen stating hit ENT to ack power shut down; at the same time the AP (Autopilot) was automatically disconnected and unable to re-engage. Very quickly followed by the unit just shutting off. I used a flashlight to look at my amp meter which showed no charge was happening. While monitoring ZZZ2 traffic my co-pilot attempted to contact tower to inform them of our situation. Upon his first attempt we lost all comms and at the same time lost our transponder and all light capabilities. My co-pilot using his cell phone was able to contact FSS out of ZZZ2 to inform them of our situation. During this time I continued to fly the aircraft; and used the aircraft's loss of power checklist; also conducted a left turn back to 090 from a 270. Once we were abeam from the ZZZ2 runways we were cleared to enter the Class C for the landing and be looking for gun lights from the tower. I was cleared for XXL. While on approach I asked my rear passenger if he could use his phones flashlight to ensure we would or would not have use of our flaps; which we did not. We were also told to be on the look out for fire trucks responding to our situation. On final no vehicles or other aircraft were in my way or even visible. I made a clean landing and used flashlights to exit the runway.
Second reporter narrative
I was riding with a buddy of mine to catch up on life while he was flying enroute from ZZZ to ZZZ1. During this flight we experienced a total electrical failure making it to where we had to divert to land at ZZZ2. The first indication of the electrical failure was when the GPS came up and said press ENT to ankowledge the power loss. Soon after this the AP (Autopilot) disconnected and wouldn't re-engage. As soon as this happened the pilot flying immediately started running checklist to try and get the power back to the aircraft. While that happened I jumped in and tried to call ZZZ2 approach to get us cleared into the charlie and be able to land on XXL. As soon as I got the frequency in to ZZZ2 appraoch the comms and transponder went completely out. Which left me no choice but to use my cell phone to call FSS and get cleared to enter the airspace and land at ZZZ2. Once we got clearance to enter charlie airspace and we were cleared to land on XXL we ended the phone call and proceeded to complete the mission by just getting the aircraft on the ground. During the approach into ZZZ2 we proceeded to lose everything such as the lights and no flaps; which made it to be a full electrical failure. We got the aircraft on the ground safely and were soon greeted by the firetrucks that ZZZ2 tower sent out for us to have for our safety.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.