Former NFL tight finish Russ Francis was killed together with one other aviation fanatic when their single-engine aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from an upstate New York airportFILE - San Francisco 49ers' Russ Francis will get his palms on the ball for a 28 yard go reception on a go from quarterback Joe Montana through …
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Former NFL tight finish Russ Francis, a three-time Professional Bowl choice with the New England Patriots who received a Tremendous Bowl with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, was killed together with one other aviation fanatic when their small aircraft crashed after takeoff from an upstate New York airport, authorities stated Monday.
Francis, 70, and Richard McSpadden, 63, had simply departed from the Lake Placid Airport shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in a single-engine Cessna 177 when the aircraft encountered bother. The New York State Police stated the plane crashed into an embankment on the nook of the airport.
Francis was president of Lake Placid Airways, which runs constitution and scenic flights. A longtime flying fanatic, he had been a pilot for practically 50 years and had run a constitution service in Hawaii, in accordance with the airline’s web site. McSpadden was a senior vice chairman of the Plane Homeowners and Pilots Affiliation and was often called an aviation security professional. The group stated his profession included a stint as commander of the U.S. Air Pressure Thunderbirds.
Francis was a Patriots first-round draft decide in 1975 and performed in New England till 1980, making the franchise’s all-decade workforce for the Nineteen Seventies and the thirty fifth anniversary workforce. He was named to the Professional Bowl three straight seasons from 1977-79.
“Russ was a fan favourite all through his enjoying profession,” Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft stated in a press release. “He was a dynamic participant on the sphere who had a good larger character off it. He knew no boundaries, pushed the boundaries and lived his life to the fullest.”
Francis joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and was a part of the 1984 workforce that beat Miami within the Tremendous Bowl. He returned to New England in 1987 and retired the yr after. In all, he had 393 receptions for five,262 yards and 40 touchdowns.
The crash is below investigation by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.
