Tuesday, June 28 2005 13:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: John Walton, heir of Sam Walton founded retail stores empire 'Wal-Mart,' was killed when an aircraft he was piloting crashed soon after take off from an airport near Wyoming, US.

The 58-year-old was piloting an experimental ultra-light aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff yesterday from the Jackson Hole Airport in Grand Teton National Park, the company said.

He was pronounced dead at the spot and the cause of the crash was not ascertained, officials said.

Walton is survived by his wife Christy, son Luke, mother Helen, brothers Rob and Jim Walton and sister Alice.

A decorated Vietnam veteran and an experienced aviator, Walton pursued a variety of business interests including working as a crop duster in the 1970s and building boats in the 1980s. More recently, he had formed a holding company, True North, to oversee various business interests.

He served with the Green Berets as a medic during the Vietnam War and was awarded the 'Silver Star' for saving the lives of several members of his unit while under enemy fire, he said. He was ranked 11th in the Forbes magazine's list of 400 wealthiest Americans and was worth $20 billion.

He attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, and served as a board member of the Walton Family Foundation.

The plane he was piloting was an experimental ultra-light aircraft with a small, gasoline-powered engine and wings wrapped in fabric similar to heavy-duty sail cloth, the company officials added.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.