LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Former NFL participant Russ Francis, a three-time Professional Bowl choice with the New England Patriots who received the Tremendous Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, was killed together with one other aviation fanatic when their small aircraft crashed after takeoff . Monday from an upstate New York airport, authorities stated.
Francis, 70, and Richard McSpadden, 63, had simply departed Lake Placid Airport shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in a single-engine Cessna 177 when the aircraft skilled hassle. New York State Police stated the aircraft hit a bridge on the nook of the airport.
Francis was president of Lake Placid Airways, which operated constitution and scenic flights. A longtime aviation fanatic, he had been a pilot for almost 50 years and ran a constitution service in Hawaii, in keeping with the airline’s web site. McSpadden was senior vice chairman of the Plane Homeowners and Pilots Affiliation and was often known as an aviation security professional. His profession included a stint as captain of the U.S. Air Power Thunderbirds, the group stated.
Francis was a Patriots first-round decide in 1975 and performed in New England till 1980, making the Franchise All-Decade Crew of the Seventies and the thirty fifth Anniversary Crew. He was chosen to the Professional Bowl for 3 consecutive seasons from 1977-79.
“Ross has been a fan favourite all through his taking part in profession,” Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft stated in an announcement. “He was a dynamic participant on the sphere and had a fair larger persona off the sphere. He knew no bounds, went above and past and lived his life to the fullest.
Francis joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and was a part of the 1984 staff that beat Miami within the Tremendous Bowl. He returned to New England in 1987 and retired the next yr. In all, he had 393 receptions for five,262 yards and 40 touchdowns.
The accident is underneath investigation by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.