Appleton, who was 51, was flying an experimental fixed-wing plane at the time of the accident.
"Steve's passion and energy left an indelible mark on Micron, the Idaho community and the technology industry at large," the company said in a statement.
Appleton had been with Micron since 1983, and previously served as a production manager, director of manufacturing, vice president of manufacturing, and chief operating officer.
Micron, based in Boise, is the largest memory chip manufacturer in the U.S., and one of the largest in the world. The company has plants in Idaho, Utah, and Virginia, and runs a joint manufacturing venture with Intel. Perhaps not a household name among consumers, it's responsible for brands like Lexar and Crucial.
Appleton began his career there as the age of 22, working the overnight shift in the company's factory, and eventually climbed the ranks to become Micron's CEO in 1994 at the age of 34. On the side, he was a stunt pilot, triathlete, and tennis player.
Appleton is survived by his wife and family.
Micron says it will provide more information later today.
Posts
