PRIOR TO THE ACFT'S DEPARTURE FROM TRUCKEE-TAHOE ARPT, AN INBOUND PLT RECOMMENDED VIA RADIO THAT THE FLT NOT GO BECAUSE HE HAD JUST FLOWN THRU THE DONNER PASS & THE WX WAS TERRIBLE. HE REPORTED THE WIND 25-35K, GUSTING 40-45K. THE FLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED PIREPS, AREA FORECASTS & SIGMETS CONTAINING MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE. THE FLT DEPARTED TRUCKEE AT APRX 1800 & AT 1818 ESTIMATED THEIR POSITION 20 MI NORTH OF TRUCKEE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 9,000 FT. AT 1826 ATC ADVISED THE FLT THAT THEY STILL WERE NOT PICKING HIM UP ON RADAR & FOR HIM TO PROCEED TO INTECEPT V6N AIRWAY. AT 1835 THE FLT REPORTED UPON REQUEST THEY HAD NOT YET PASSED TRUCKEE INTERSECTION. AT 1837:20 THE FLIGHT REPORTED THEY WERE GOING TO TURN & TRY TO MAKE IT BACK TO RENO. AT 1837:38 THE FLT TRANSMITTED A MAYDAY. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 4 MI NORTH OF VERDI ON A SLOPE OF PEARVINE MOUNTAIN.