Incident Overview
A pilot and a passenger, who was also a rated pilot, were returning from a dental appointment in northern California. They were receiving VFR advisories from air traffic control and maintaining VFR on top at 14,500 feet MSL. During the flight, a voice believed to be the passenger transmitted, "we're in big trouble up here," followed by incomplete or unreadable transmissions. The aircraft subsequently lost radar and radio contact.
Wreckage and Terrain
The wreckage was located in mountainous terrain. Examination indicated that the airplane collided with terrain while in a near-vertical attitude.
Weather Conditions
Prior to departure, the pilot had obtained a preflight weather briefing, which stated that VFR flight was not recommended. A formal weather study determined that the airplane most likely flew into clouds. Conditions at the flight altitude were conducive to light to moderate rime icing in clouds. The incident occurred 11 minutes before official sunset, in cloudy conditions.