# Accident 20110421006959A: Dahlman-Dower TAILWIND W-8, Elk City, OK, April 21, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2011, 11:30 local time
- Place: Elk City, OK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5000° N, 99.4500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5000&lon=-99.4500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7804C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7804C-2013-05-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dahlman-Dower TAILWIND W-8 (registry code 97902A5, https://openairdocs.org/model/dahlman-dower-tailwind-w-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DAHLMAN-DOWER TAILWIND W-8
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11FA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA300) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110421006959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 04/21/2011, N7804C WAS ENROUTE FROM PUEBLO CO. TO MCKINNEY TEXAS.  THE PILOT WAS VFR ON TOP AND CONTACTED MCALESTER FLIGHT SERVICE FOR A WEATHER UPDATE.  FLIGHT SERVICE ADVISED HIM VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED ALONG HIS ROUTE.  THE PILOT THEN CONTACTED FORT WORTH CENTER AND REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE INTO CLINTON OKLAHOMA.  THE PILOT WAS GIVEN A DESCENT TO 5000.  WHEN ASKED WHAT KIND OF APPROACH N7804C WOULD LIKE, THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY REPORTED A GYRO PROBLEM.  A CLEARANCE WAS THEN GIVEN TO CLIMB TO 8,000FT AND FORT WORTH CENTER STARTED TO VECTOR HIM TO LIBERAL KANSAS WHERE THE WEATHER WAS VFR.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AT 1130 LOCAL TIME.  THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS A "VFR" ONLY AIRCRAFT BUT REQUESTED AND RECIEVED AND "IFR" CLEARANCE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN11FA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA300), Apr 21, 2011: Dahlman-Dower Tailwind W-8 (N7804C), Elk City, OK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to attempt flight into instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane that was equipped for flight in visual meteorological conditions only, which resulted in the pilot’s…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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