Locking Collar, Mods Under Investigation

It could have been a case of loose wiring that contributed to the homebuilt crash that killed Wal-Mart heir John Walton last year.

The NTSB's factual report, available at the FMI link below, also identifies a series of modifications to the CGS Hawk Arrow that may have also contributed to the June 27, 2005 mishap in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park.

The manufacturer says it could have been a loose control collar or the vast modifications Walton made to the aircraft after a hard landing months earlier in Nebraska that contributed to the fatal crash.

The NTSB reports the aircraft's fabric cockpit enclosure panels had been removed prior to the accident, including a section of fabric between the wings.

"We never tested a Hawk Arrow in the configuration he was flying it," the manufacturer said. He added an improperly installed locking collar may mean Walton "...could have been pulling full back on the stick, but all it did was take up some slack. There may have been no response at the other end, no movement of the elevators."

The investigation continues.

FMI: Read The Complete NTSB Factual Report