BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A small experimental plane piloted by the chief executive and chairman of Micron Technology Inc. crashed after take-off Friday at the Boise airport, killing the head of the Idaho memory chip maker who survived a similar crash eight years ago. Steve Appleton, a professional stunt pilot and former motor cross racer, was the only person aboard the plane when witnesses said it steeply banked, stalled and rolled to the ground, according to Zoe Keliher, air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. It was the aircraft's second take-off attempt for the morning. Appleton's death was confirmed by Micron spokesman Dan Fransicso, and trading in the company's stock was halted. The company's shares have traded between $3.97 and $11.95 over the past year, and shares were up 23 cents at $7.95 Friday before the announcement. "Steve's passion and energy left an indelible mark on Micron, the Idaho community and the technology industry at large," Micron's board of directors said in a prepared statement. Micron is one of many companies that make semiconductor chips for various devices, including computers, mobile devices, cameras, cars and industrial systems. It makes products under the Lexar and Crucial brands, and is one of Idaho's largest and most influential employers Questions have been raised in the past about whether Appleton, as a CEO, should be engaging in the risky hobby. The 51-year-old Appleton hadn't filed a flight plan and by all indications planned to stay in the area for a recreational flight, investigators said. Keliher, of the NTSB, said the crash happened during Appleton's second attempt to fly that morning. She said Appleton's first take-off ended abruptly - witnesses said the plane only got about 5 feet off the ground - when he re-landed and returned to a hangar for about five minutes. Keliher said witnesses reported that the plane then returned to the runway to take off again, but Appleton almost immediately told the tower he needed to turn around and re-land. His plane was about 100 or 200 feet in the air before witnesses say it crashed and caught fire. Appleton's body was thrown from the wreckage. Keliher said the remains of the pilot weren't immediately identifiable, but Appleton's wallet and other belongings were among the debris. She said the body was being fingerprinted by authorities. The weather was clear and the runway was dry, Keliher said, and investigators planned to look for any evidence of equipment failure or other problems. Airport spokeswoman Patti Miller said the aircraft was a fixed-wing prop plane Lancair, which is built from kits. Federal Aviation Administration's records show the tail number of the wrecked plane was registered to Raleighwood Aviation LLC out of North Carolina. It was manufactured in 2007 and filed in the "amateur built" category. After the 2004 crash, Appleton didn't immediately reveal the severity of injuries he sustained in that crash, and at the time a Micron spokesman described Appleton as only sustaining some "bumps and bruises." It wasn't immediately clear what impact Appleton's death would have on Micron. The company was instrumental in the Idaho's tech boom and is known for charitable giving, recently donating $13 million for a new building at Boise State University. Associated Press reporters Nick Jesdanun and Joan Lowy contributed to this report.