6:37 AM
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 6:37 AM
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Pressure: 1015.6 mb
Visibility: 10.00 miles
Wind: Southeast at 4.6 MPH (4 KT)
Last Updated on May 19 2012, 5:53 am MDT

News

Pilot CEO Micron Steve Appleton Sole Fatality in Crash at Boise Airport
Friday, February 03, 2012

Contact: Patti Miller

208-424-5666 | pamiller@cityofboise.org

 

At approximately 08:56 AM MST today, an experimental fixed wing single engine Lancair aircraft crashed between the two main runways at Boise Airport - Gowen Field.  Army National Guard and Boise Airport Firefighter units responded to extinguish the fire. Emergency medical staff on site advised of one fatality. Calls were made immediately notifying the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

 

Boise Airport suspended airfield operations briefly until the runway was checked for debris and determined it was safe to reopen. The single runway was reopened to air traffic at 09:16 AM. No flights were canceled due to the incident.


NTSB arrived on scene at 10:50 AM; inspector began interviews of on-scene emergency personnel and witnesses. Coroner was notified and arrived on scene at apx 11:31 AM. Victim was removed to Ada County Morgue at apx 01:31 PM.

 

At 02:00 PM media briefing at the airport, NTSB advised that witnesses reported the aircraft had taken off on Runway 10L at apx 8:46 AM, landed safely, returned to the hangar briefly, then took off again on Runway 10R. Aircraft ascended apx 100-200 ft altitude before rolling left and plummeting to the ground at apx 08:56 AM. NTSB confirmed that the pilot, a male, was the only
person on board, and that personal effects at the scene identified the pilot as Micron CEO Steve Appleton. Micron Board of Directors had released a statement prior to the NTSB media conference confirming the identity of the pilot.


Mayor Bieter expressed the sentiment of the entire community when he noted "this feels like a loss of someone in our family. Steve taught us that the very best in the world can happen in Boise because he proved it. Micron will continue to be an amazing presence in the city of Boise and whole community. And our community will continue to support Micron."


NTSB advised of arrangements to move the aircraft wreckage to a hangar for inspection after 05:00 PM today.


NTSB media line: 202-314-6100


Attending:       Zoe Keliher, NTSB Air Safety Investigator

Boise Mayor Dave Bieter

Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan

                       Boise Airport Operations Deputy Director Sarah Demory

                       Garry Beaty, Interim Boise Airport Director

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