What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
N25153 departed 00C approx. 1330 contacted zdv and requested flight following to ase. The controller issued a disceet code 1430 radar identified N25153 and verified a/c at FL200. The controller asked if the pilot was capable and qualified for IFR flight, pilot responded he was not. Controller asked pilot to descend to an altitude that would allow for VFR. Pilot said as soon as I can, not at current altitude have to go a little bit further. Radio and radar contact was lost. Debris from a/c located, the a/c had not been found, nor pilot or pax's until rescue attempts over the next couple of days.
As the FAA filed it
N25153 DEPARTED 00C APPROX. 1330 CONTACTED ZDV AND REQUESTED FLIGHT FOLLOWING TO ASE. THE CONTROLLER ISSUED A DISCEET CODE 1430 RADAR IDENTIFIED N25153 AND VERIFIED A/C AT FL200. THE CONTROLLER ASKED IF THE PILOT WAS CAPABLE AND QUALIFIED FOR IFR FLIGHT, PILOT RESPONDED HE WAS NOT. CONTROLLER ASKED PILOT TO DESCEND TO AN ALTITUDE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR VFR. PILOT SAID AS SOON AS I CAN, NOT AT CURRENT ALTITUDE HAVE TO GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. DEBRIS FROM A/C LOCATED, THE A/C HAD NOT BEEN FOUND, NOR PILOT OR PAX'S UNTIL RESCUE ATTEMPTS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.