Current:Home > MarketsPlane crash in Lake Placid kills 2, including former NFL player Russ Francis of Patriots, 49ers-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Plane crash in Lake Placid kills 2, including former NFL player Russ Francis of Patriots, 49ers
View Date:2025-01-13 01:56:27
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — Former NFL tight end Russ Francis, a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the New England Patriots who won a Super Bowl with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, was killed along with another aviation enthusiast when the single-engine plane the two men were in crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in upstate New York, authorities said Monday.
Francis, 70, and Richard McSpadden, 63, had taken off from the Lake Placid Airport shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in a Cessna 177 plane when the plane had some kind of problem. The New York State Police said it crashed into an embankment at the corner of the airport.
Francis was president of Lake Placid Airways, which runs charter and scenic flights. A longtime flying enthusiast, the airline’s website said he had been a pilot for almost 50 years, and had run a charter service in Hawaii. McSpadden was a senior vice president at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which advocates around general aviation. The organization said his career included a stint as commander of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
Francis was a Patriots first-round draft pick in 1975 and played in New England until 1980, making the franchise’s all-decade team for the 1970s and the 35th anniversary team. He was named to the Pro Bowl three straight seasons from 1977-79.
“Russ was a fan favorite throughout his playing career,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “He was a dynamic player on the field who had an even bigger personality off it. He knew no boundaries, pushed the limits and lived his life to the fullest.”
Francis joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and was part of the 1984 team that beat Miam in the Super Bowl. He returned to New England in 1987 and retired the year after. In all, he had 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns.
The crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
veryGood! (78433)
Related
- Why Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe
- Hilary Swank Has a Million-Dollar Message for Moms Who Complain About Motherhood
- Louisiana lawmakers seek to ban sex dolls that look like children
- Georgia plans to put to death a man in the state’s first execution in more than 4 years
- Voters in Oakland oust Mayor Sheng Thao just 2 years into her term
- Alabama enacts new restrictions on absentee ballot requests
- Trump is suing ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation. Here's what to know about his claim.
- Reports: Authorities investigate bomb threat claim at MLB season-opener in South Korea
- Mississippi expects only a small growth in state budget
- Mega Millions winning numbers for March 19 drawing: Lottery jackpot soars to $977 million
Ranking
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- Reports: Authorities investigate bomb threat claim at MLB season-opener in South Korea
- Family sorting through father's Massachusetts attic found looted Japanese art: See photos
- Kenny Chesney reveals what he texted Taylor Swift after her Person of the Year shout-out
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Shares Reaction to BFF Teddi Mellencamp's Divorce
- Kris Jenner mourns loss of 'beautiful' sister Karen Houghton: 'Life is so short and precious'
- 'The Voice' coaches Chance the Rapper and John Legend battle over contestant Nadége
- Family sorting through father's Massachusetts attic found looted Japanese art: See photos
Recommendation
-
Suspect in deadly 2023 Atlanta shooting is deemed not competent to stand trial
-
FBI says homicide rates fell nationwide in 2023
-
Mega Millions jackpot nears billion dollar mark, at $977 million
-
More than six in 10 US abortions in 2023 were done by medication — a significant jump since 2020
-
Oprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign
-
10 years after the deadliest US landslide, climate change is increasing the danger
-
Companies Are Poised to Inject Millions of Tons of Carbon Underground. Will It Stay Put?
-
Biden to tout government investing $8.5 billion in Intel’s computer chip plants in four states