A C172 PILOT; ON HIS FIRST SOLO TO THE PRACTICE AREA; NOTICED FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIO STACK. HE TURNED OFF THE RADIO MASTER; CALLED HIS INSTRUCTOR ON HIS CELL PHONE TO COORDINATE WITH THE TOWER; AND RETURNED TO HIS DEP ARPT.

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I WAS DOING MY FIRST SOLO OUT TO THE PRACTICE AREA N OF THE ARPT. I WAS DOING SOME GND REF MANEUVERS AND NOTICED THAT THE GPS AND NAV LIGHTS WERE ON. I THOUGHT THAT WAS STRANGE AND THEN NOTICED THE ANNUNCIATOR FLASH LOW FUEL. I KNEW THERE WERE FULL TANKS BECAUSE I CHKED THEM DURING PREFLT. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOKING FOR AN EMER LNDG SITE AND SUDDENLY NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIO STACK IN THE GAP BTWN THE RADIOS AND ADF. THE XPONDER WAS STILL ON; SO I TRIED TO SQUAWK 7600 BUT WHEN I TRIED; THE XPONDER FAILED TOO. I TURNED THE AVIONICS MASTER OFF. I WAS GOING TO LAND AT A NON-CTLED ARPT BEFORE I REALIZED I HAD MY CELL PHONE IN MY BAG. I CALLED MY FLT INSTRUCTOR WHO I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF BEFORE GOING TO SOLO AND TOLD HER I HAD NO COM; SO SHE CALLED THE TWR FOR ME AND CALLED BACK TO SAY I COULD COME IN TO LAND AND TO LOOK FOR LIGHT SIGNALS. ON APCH; I NOTICED THE LIGHT SIGNALS AND A FIRE TRUCK NEAR THE RWY. AT THIS POINT; I REALIZED ALL THE ELECTRICAL WAS OUT BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC FLAPS WEREN'T WORKING EITHER. I LANDED AND TAXIED BACK TO THE PARKING AREA.