Pilot Debrief

Dahlman-Dower Tailwind W-8 near Elk City, OK — 2011-04-21

Final reportCEN11FA300
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Date
2011-04-21
Location
Elk City, OK, USA
Aircraft
Dahlman-Dower Tailwind W-8
Registration
N7804C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Descent

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 spatial disoriented and loss of control of the airplane.

NTSB narrative

The pilot’s in-flight weather briefing indicated that instrument meteorological conditions, including low ceilings, were forecast for the area. He then contacted the nearest Air Route Traffic Control Center and requested an instrument clearance to a nearby airport. The controller offered to vector the pilot for an instrument landing system, very-high frequency omnidirectional radio range, or area navigation/global positioning system approach to that airport, but the pilot said he was having gyro problems. The pilot said he would divert to a visual flight rules (VFR) airport. Radio and radar contacts were then lost. A postaccident examination of the wreckage at the scene indicated that the airplane struck the shoulder of a road in an inverted, nose-down attitude. The only navigational charts found at the accident scene were a bound VFR chart atlas. No instrument flight rules charts were found. A further examination of the airplane showed that the airplane was equipped with basic VFR instrumentation only. Analysis of radar data revealed that the airplane made three turns: two tight left turns followed by a wide right turn. These turns took place in the last few minutes of flight and were consistent with a spiraling descent.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Spatial disorientation
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have diverted to better VFR conditions earlier instead of continuing into IMC.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • Photos
  • 20 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents20

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