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Steve Appleton, daredevil CEO of memory chip maker Micron, dies in Boise plane crash
AP via The Washington Post ^ | February 3, 2012

Posted on 02/03/2012 7:42:20 PM PST by EveningStar

The head of memory chip maker Micron, long known for taking risks in stunt piloting, died Friday when a small experimental plane he was piloting steeply banked, stalled and crashed near an Idaho runway.

Steve Appleton, who survived a similar crash eight years ago and had a reputation as a hard-driving daredevil, was the only person aboard the plane when witnesses said it crashed shortly after its second take-off attempt in Boise, according to safety investigators.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Idaho
KEYWORDS: aviation; lancairivp; micron; obituary; planecrash; steveappleton
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To: EveningStar

Hey I know what that second picture is and who was flying that experimental airplane I wonder how many other freepers do?


21 posted on 02/03/2012 10:00:11 PM PST by djwright (2012 The White House Gets Another Coat Of Shellac)
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To: djwright

It was Tex Johnson, flying the Boeing 367-80, or Dash 80, which was the prototype of the 707.


22 posted on 02/03/2012 10:16:48 PM PST by kerosene
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To: djwright; kerosene
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2827019/posts?page=13#13
23 posted on 02/03/2012 10:22:20 PM PST by EveningStar
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To: Paladin2

He aborted his 1st takeoff, was having problems with the plane. Taxied back to the hanger, then crashed 20 minutes later attempting to take off again. Doubt if it was an engine problem, probably a control issue.


24 posted on 02/03/2012 11:41:57 PM PST by TruthWillWin (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)
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To: A.A. Cunningham
It wasn't a straight Lancair IV-P - it was a turbine version like this one with a longer nose. Even more power...


25 posted on 02/04/2012 1:39:25 AM PST by az_gila
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To: Paladin2

Any plane or jet that is overloaded or NOT loaded properly.
If you take say a cargo jet and put a pile of feathers in the back and a ton of gold in the front you will NOT get off.
If you have say a light plane, Cesna 170, theoretically a 4 person plane and put four wide bodies in it instead of two regular folks and two small kids you will NOT get off.
Also if you have mechanical troubles on take off you may not get off.
Loads of possibilities.
Then again he could have done a John Denver and taken off in his toy without fuel.


26 posted on 02/04/2012 4:48:40 AM PST by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) Hey Mitt, F-you too pal)
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To: pterional

Lancair IV is a monster plane, as it seems are all Lancairs.
Safe and very fast.
That does not ever necessarily reflect the mechanic.
RV6A here.


27 posted on 02/04/2012 4:54:06 AM PST by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) Hey Mitt, F-you too pal)
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To: EveningStar
RIP Mr. Appleton.

61 mph is the FAA's number for certified aircraft's stall speed that must be met from a design standpoint for a reason. Read in Kitplanes or try to find Barnaby Wainfan's slide presentation of survivability above 61mph it is not good. I lost a very good friend last yr. to stall/spin, so I am sorry to make this a bit personal, but if it was stall/spin, the pain the families and friends will go through will be very diffcult. Prayers up for them all....

28 posted on 02/04/2012 5:18:30 AM PST by taildragger (( Palin / Mulally 2012 ))
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To: Joe Boucher
Very doubtful that he ran out of fuel, the fire after the crash was from burning fuel. Even if he did something dumb like forget to turn on the fuel valve it is not likely that a pilot with his experience would stall a plane with an engine that quit on takeoff.

Also not likely that the plane was overweight. With only the pilot and full fuel the plane was well below takeoff max weight. True that many if not most 4 seat planes will be overweight with 4 occupants and full fuel what is normally done is the plane takes off with less than a full tank of fuel to be under weight limits.

It appears this crash was because of mechanical problems, he aborted his 1st takeoff after getting only a few feet off the ground and told ATC that he had problems and was going back to the hanger. He returned about 15 minutes later for the fatal takeoff wrongly believing he had the problem resolved.

29 posted on 02/04/2012 8:41:43 AM PST by TruthWillWin (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)
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To: TruthWillWin

Correct you are on each point but I was not trying to diagnose this accidents fault, just answering the question asked, in this day how can this happen, LOTS OF WAYS.


30 posted on 02/04/2012 1:32:50 PM PST by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) Hey Mitt, F-you too pal)
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