Steve Appleton, 51-year-old Chairman and CEO of Micron Technologies was killed Friday morning after the experimental plane he was piloting crashed at the Boise Airport.

According the National Transportation Safety Board, Appleton's single engine prop plane went down between two airport runways shortly after 9 am.

Investigators say the plane was approximately two hundred feet in the air when it banked steeply and crashed in flames.

Trading of Micron's stock was halted for the day. In the meantime, the company released a statement confirming their CEO's death.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Appleton, Micron Chairmman and CEO, passed away this morning in a small plane accident in Boise. He was 51.

Our hearts go out to his wife, Dalynn, his children and his family during this tragic time.

Steve's passion and energy left an indelible mark on Micron, the Idaho community and the technology industry at large."

Appleton was an avid pilot who was injured in a previous crash back in 2004.

He assumed the top job at Micron in 2007.

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