With a dead battery, you'd not only have no radio, but also no lights and
no transponder. What makes you think the tower would even have a clue you
were there?

They were expecting me. I had already told ATC my intentions. I'd be a
primary target until I dropped below radar. I've landed without lights
before, it's no big deal. Had I not been able to get landing lights,
then I might have needed to divert to an airport that had them. But if
the failure were one that would drain the battery before I got to
Danbury (it was about twenty minutes away tops), it would likely have
drained no matter where I picked. I think the nearest airport was New
Haven or Bridgeport; DXR isn't much further.

I was wondering if I was the only one who noticed that.

I noticed that, at the time. In fact, since I turned off the lights and
the transponder, I was already in that state. I just had to be extra
vigilant.

... and then what?
Get the airplane fixed and/or rent a car to get your pax home.

I suppose. But yanno, everything is risk for benefit. The additional
risk of continuing with no alternator at night for about fifteen minutes
was one I judeged acceptable for the benefit of not having to deal with
hours of hassle.

It's not like a crash was imminent, or even likely.

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
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