What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The pilot was advised of moderate turbulence below 18,000 feet MSL, with a freezing level reported to be 9,300 feet and rime icing expected. En route the pilot changed his destination to Lake Tahoe instead of truckee. He was requested to hold at the squaw valley VOR at 13,000 feet and to expect a clearance into Lake Tahoe. The pilot stated that he was in rime icing and requested 12,000 and, unable to hold at 12,000 feet, requested 11,000 feet. He was given a heading change and requested to maintain 11,000 feet. He then requested a 180-degree turn and later reported that he was now out of the clouds and in the clear, but he had a lot of ice. He then stated 'we're declaring an emergency I'm going down.' ATC provided the pilot with a heading change to which he acknowledged. That was the last communication with the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 18,000 FEET MSL, WITH A FREEZING LEVEL REPORTED TO BE 9,300 FEET AND RIME ICING EXPECTED. EN ROUTE THE PILOT CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO LAKE TAHOE INSTEAD OF TRUCKEE. HE WAS REQUESTED TO HOLD AT THE SQUAW VALLEY VOR AT 13,000 FEET AND TO EXPECT A CLEARANCE INTO LAKE TAHOE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN RIME ICING AND REQUESTED 12,000 AND, UNABLE TO HOLD AT 12,000 FEET, REQUESTED 11,000 FEET. HE WAS GIVEN A HEADING CHANGE AND REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN 11,000 FEET. HE THEN REQUESTED A 180-DEGREE TURN AND LATER REPORTED THAT HE WAS NOW OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND IN THE CLEAR, BUT HE HAD A LOT OF ICE. HE THEN STATED 'WE'RE DECLARING AN EMERGENCY I'M GOING DOWN.' ATC PROVIDED THE PILOT WITH A HEADING CHANGE TO WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED. THAT WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.