WORLD'S 11TH RICHEST PERSON KILLED! (Hooray!)

BILLIONAIRE Wal-Mart heir John Walton died when the homemade plane he was flying crashed in a national park in Wyoming, US authorities said today.

The plane crashed shortly after taking off from Jackson Hole Airport in Grand Teton National Park, the National Park Service said.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known.

Walton, the son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, was the world's 11th richest person with a net worth exceeding $US18 billion ($23.4bn) , according to Forbes magazine.

The park service said: "Walton, the pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft, died on impact and was later pronounced dead at the scene by Teton County Coroner, Bob Campbell."

A spokeswoman said Walton, 58, was an experienced pilot who was flying a homemade aircraft with an aluminum frame and wings wrapped in fabric similar to heavy-duty sail cloth.

"This was an experimental, very lightweight aircraft," said Joan Anzelmo.

The plane weighed between 400 and 500 pounds (180 to 225kg), she said.

Weather conditions were good at the time of the crash.

Walton lived in Jackson, Wyoming.

This article was published by the Australian here and happily reblogged by Audrey.