Family: Nevada plane crash pilot had ‘affinity for aviation’

By SCOTT SONNER and RIO YAMAT
Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The pilot of a medical transport plane that crashed during a winter storm in Nevada followed in the footsteps of his grandfather who flew bombers in World War II. All five people aboard the flight died. A brother of 46-year-old Scott Walton of Allendale, Michigan says he always had an affinity for aviation. Michael Walton says his older brother was in his 30s when he began training to become a full-time pilot after working in marketing for many years. A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday that it will take two to three weeks to complete a preliminary investigation into the cause of the crash. Investigators say the single-engine Pilatus PC12 apparently broke apart Friday night before hitting the ground about 40 miles southeast of Reno.