What happened
During a cross-country flight, the pilot reported encountering icing conditions while maintaining an altitude of 10,000 feet at 1828. The aircraft had been at this altitude since 1745. In response to the weather, the pilot requested a descent to 8,000 feet at 1831 to avoid further ice accumulation, and subsequently requested clearance to descend to 6,000 feet at 1836, which was approved.
At 1857, while level at 6,000 feet, the aircraft was handed off to Castle Approach. No further radio contact was established after this point. The aircraft eventually crashed in flat, wet pasture land and was destroyed upon impact.