The National Transportation Safety Board later reported that Walton had improperly reinstalled the rear locking collar on the elevator control torque tube. This allowed the torque tube to move rearward during his flight and loosened the elevator control cable tension. The outcome of the failed repair was an inflight loss of pitch control, without which Walton could not control the aircraft's altitude.
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Walton was survived by his wife Christy and their son Lukas. He had two brothers and a sister, S. Robson Walton, Jim Walton and Alice Walton.
John Thomas Walton (October 8, 1946 – June 27, 2005) was a decorated United States war veteran and a son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He was also the chairman of True North Partners, a venture capital firm.