An Adam Le Fondre hat-trick helped Rochdale bury their home hoodoo and record their first win at Spotland since New Year's Day.
Accrington bossed the early stages and were unlucky not to go in at the break in the lead, but could have no complaints in the second half as Rochdale simply tore them to shreds.
With Paul Mullin leading the line well, Accrington caused the home defence a series of early problems and the only surprise was that it took them 30 minutes to take the lead.
A long ball was allowed to drop into the home penalty area and Shaun Whalley raced in to score.
The home side were given a lifeline in the dying seconds of the half when the referee awarded them a debatable penalty after a challenge on skipper Gary Jones by Jay Harris.
Le Fondre calmly stroked home from the spot.
The second half saw Rochdale completely in control and they took the lead on 48 minutes when skipper Jones crashed home his 50th goal for the club after a surging run by David Perkins.
On 65 minutes, Chris Basham produced a pinpoint cross that Le Fondre headed home and the little striker completed his hat-trick by finishing off a flowing 83rd-minute move with a clever close-range finish.
With games in hand over the sides above them Rochdale are now very much in the play-off race having narrowed the gap between them and seventh-placed Rotherham to five points.