Preflight Weather Briefing
Before departure, the pilot obtained a weather briefing from a flight service station. The briefer asked if the pilot was taking the anti-icing equipped airplane; the pilot replied, "Hopefully." The briefer informed the pilot that there were various weather phenomena along the intended route, including ice, instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions, and turbulence. The briefer specified rime ice, mixed clouds, and precipitation such as mist, snow, sleet, and rain. The freezing level at the departure airport was reported as 1,500 feet above ground level (agl). When asked about an alternate airport, the pilot responded negatively.
In-Flight Events
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane climbed to 4,000 feet and was identified on radar by air traffic control. The pilot reported that the airplane was accumulating "very little ice" and requested an altitude of 6,000 feet. After being cleared, the pilot shortly thereafter requested 3,000 feet because the airplane would not climb. The controller cleared the airplane to 3,200 feet, the minimum en route altitude for the area. The pilot then requested to divert to a nearby airport and asked for its weather, stating he could hardly maintain altitude because the airplane "had a lot of ice." Radar contact was lost below 3,200 feet. The pilot reported he could not find the approach plates for the airport and was losing altitude. When asked if he was picking up ice, the pilot responded, "Lot of ice." The controller cleared the pilot to descend at his discretion. When asked if he could navigate an approach, the pilot replied, "No sir, I'm going down."
Forced Landing and Aftermath
During an attempted forced landing, the airplane struck a tree and came to rest upright in a field approximately 4 miles southeast of the airport. In a post-accident interview, the pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the airplane's deice equipment. He noted that it was somewhat difficult to see the extent of the ice accumulation because the flight occurred prior to sunrise. An examination of the airframe, systems, and engines revealed no anomalies.