What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was enroute VFR from kpsp to kmfr at 17,500FT. He was receiving flight following from sea center. Descendet for arrival into kmfr into marginal VFR weather that included moderate precipitation and possible moderate icing. Pilot received headings and altitudes from sea center assisting him to navigate to kmfr and maintain terrain clearance. Pilot failed to follow these instructions and radar and voice contact was subsequently lost. Parts of the aircraft were found in rugget terrain by first responders. No body found to date.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS ENROUTE VFR FROM KPSP TO KMFR AT 17,500FT. HE WAS RECEIVING FLIGHT FOLLOWING FROM SEA CENTER. DESCENDET FOR ARRIVAL INTO KMFR INTO MARGINAL VFR WEATHER THAT INCLUDED MODERATE PRECIPITATION AND POSSIBLE MODERATE ICING. PILOT RECEIVED HEADINGS AND ALTITUDES FROM SEA CENTER ASSISTING HIM TO NAVIGATE TO KMFR AND MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND RADAR AND VOICE CONTACT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY LOST. PARTS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND IN RUGGET TERRAIN BY FIRST RESPONDERS. NO BODY FOUND TO DATE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.