On Sunday, a small plane crashed in Lake Placid, killing two passengers, including former NFL star Russ Francis. At 4:09 p.m., police responded to a small private plane crash on Airport Lane at the Lake Placid Airport.
Autumn Branchaud was at home with her family when her father witnessed the jet take off from his porch at 4 p.m. and then crash nine minutes later. There was fuel pouring on their faces, and they were grabbing rags to wipe it away.
Derek Doty, Town Supervisor of North Elba, verified that Francis was one of two passengers on board the plane when it crashed. Francis’ family is flying to Lake Placid today. The Town of North Elba owns the airport.
According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, “We are very saddened to report that Richard McSpadden, AOPA Senior Vice President, died in an aircraft accident outside Lake Placid, New York, on Sunday afternoon. Our thoughts are with Richard’s family at this time. We will provide more details as they are available.”
We are very saddened to report that Richard McSpadden, AOPA Senior Vice President, died in an aircraft accident outside Lake Placid, New York, on Sunday afternoon. Our thoughts are with Richard’s family at this time. We will provide more details as they are available.
— AOPA (@flywithaopa) October 2, 2023
The Cessna 177 Cardinal in which Richard was in the right seat experienced an emergency after takeoff. The airplane attempted to return to the airport but failed to make the runway. Both occupants lost their lives.
According to the organization, Francis, who just purchased Lake Placid Airways, was working on a documentary about Lake Placid with McSpadden at the time of the disaster. We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of former New England Patriots tight end Russ Francis. Our condolences are extended to Francis’ family and friends.
We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of former New England Patriots tight end Russ Francis. Our condolences are extended to Francis’ family and friends. pic.twitter.com/sgrrPZ5Ui4
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 2, 2023
Francis was a former Patriots and 49ers tight end. He was a first-round pick of the Patriots in 1975 after playing at Oregon, and he made three Pro Bowls and two second-team All-Pro selections with the team before retiring following the 1980 season.
In 1982, Francis returned to the NFL and was transferred to San Francisco, where he spent six seasons and won a Super Bowl. After being discarded in 1987, he returned to New England and played his last 12 games for the Pats in 1988.
Over the course of his career, Francis had 393 catches for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns. He is the Patriots’ 21st all-time leader in catches and 16th in receiving yards, and the Niners’ 30th and 32nd in the same categories. He was seventy years old.
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