Flight and Emergency
After takeoff, the pilot was cleared to proceed on an IFR flight plan. Subsequently cleared to 15,000 feet MSL, he reported having trouble maintaining his airspeed and declared an emergency. Shortly after that, radar contact was lost.
Impact and Wreckage
The aircraft impacted at night near the top of a mountain ridge at about 4,700 feet MSL. The wreckage was demolished and scattered over a large area, but there was no evidence of an in-flight breakup. Some parts of the wreckage, including the right engine, were not found on the snow-covered terrain.
Weather Conditions
The weather forecast called for thunderstorms in lines, mountains obscured, moderate and occasionally severe turbulence below 20,000 feet, and occasional moderate icing in clouds and in precipitation from the freezing level (3,000 feet) to 20,000 feet. The aircraft was not certified for flight in known icing conditions.