Steve Appleton -- the chairman and CEO of memory and semiconductor manufacturer Micron -- died on Friday after a small plane crash in Boise, Idaho, near the company's headquarters. He was 51.
"Our hearts go out to his wife, Dalynn, his children and his family during this tragic time," read a statement from the company's board of directors. "Steve's passion and energy left an indelible mark on Micron, the Idaho community and the technology industry at large."
He was the only person in the plane, which crashed on its second attempt at take-off.
Appleton joined Micron in 1983, working on the factory floor. By 1991, he was appointed president and chief operating officer. And three years later, he was named CEO. Under his leadership, the company made several high-profile acquisitions, including the purchase of Texas Instruments' worldwide memory operations in 1998, Toshiba's DRAM operation in 2002 and display manufacturer Displaytech in 2009.
According to the Associated Press, Appleton was a professional stunt pilot and former motor cross racer. In the summer of 2004, he survived another small-plane crash, which left him with a punctured lung, head injuries, a ruptured disk and broken bones.
He is survived by his wife Dalynn and their children.
