NTSB Releases Initial Report on Micron CEO Crash

Bethany Whitfield

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 06:54 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's preliminary report on the Lancair IV-P crash that killed Micron CEO Steve Appleton leaves many questions unanswered.
Witnesses observed the aircraft attempt takeoff, briefly touch down, and then take off again, climbing 100-200 feet before banking sharply left, rapidly losing altitude, and crashing.
The pilot, Steve Appleton, initially reported a "problem" to ATC after his first takeoff attempt, but then communicated his readiness to depart again seven minutes later, requesting to stay in the traffic pattern.

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The NTSB has released a preliminary report on the Lancair IV-P crash that killed the CEO of Micron Technology Steve Appleton earlier this month, although the initial review leaves many questions about the fatal accident unanswered.

According to the NTSB, witnesses saw the homebuilt attempt to take off from Runway 10R at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, only to climb approximately 5 to 10 feet and then touch back down. The Lancair then took off again from 10R, after which it climbed to 100 to 200 feet, banked steeply to the left and rapidly lost altitude.