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Russ Francis, a three-time Professional Bowler and Tremendous Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, was one in every of two folks killed in a airplane crash over the weekend in New York, authorities mentioned.
Francis, 70, was with one other aviation fanatic, Richard McSpadden, 63, going for a trip out of Lake Placid Airport round 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. The 2 have been in a single-engine Cessna 177 when the airplane encountered bother and crashed into an embankment on the nook of the airport, New York State Police mentioned.
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The previous New England Patriots tight finish was the group’s first-round choose in 1975 and performed for the staff till 1980. He was a Professional Bowler for 3 straight seasons between 1977-1979.
“Russ was a fan favourite all through his enjoying profession,” Patriots staff proprietor Robert Kraft mentioned in an announcement. “He was a dynamic participant on the sphere who had an excellent greater persona off it. He knew no boundaries, pushed the bounds and lived his life to the fullest.”
He returned to the soccer discipline in 1982 after retiring in 1981. He performed for the San Francisco 49ers earlier than rejoining the Patriots in the midst of the 1987 season. He completed his profession with the Patriots in 1988.
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Francis gained a Tremendous Bowl in 1984. He had a landing catch in opposition to the New York Giants within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs. San Francisco later defeated the Miami Dolphins, 38-6. He had 5 catches for 60 yards in that recreation.
Francis was the president of Lake Placid Airways, which runs constitution and scenic flights in upstate New York. He had been a pilot for almost 50 years and had run a constitution service in Hawaii, based on the airline’s web site.
McSpadden was a senior vp of the Plane Homeowners and Pilots Affiliation and was a recognized aviation security professional. The group mentioned his profession included a stint as commander of the U.S. Air Drive Thunderbirds.
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The Nationwide Transportation Security Board is investigating the crash.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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