According to family relatives, former New England Patriots tight end Russ Francis was died in an aircraft crash at Lake Placid, on Sunday. Russ Francis was 70 years old.
The incident happened near the end of the runway around 4:09 p.m. local time, Lake Placid emergency services, New York State Police, Saranac Lake Volunteer, and state Department of Environmental Conservation Forest rangers to all reacted.
According to sources, the plane was a Cessna 177 Cardinal that “experienced an emergency after takeoff.” According to an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association statement, the plane then attempted to return to the airport but failed to make the runway. It was discovered sideways and down towards the bottom of an embankment near the runway’s end.
At roughly 5 p.m., the airfield was declared a crime scene and closed to the public, and gliders that were still in the air following the disaster were instructed to land elsewhere at the airport.
A former commander of the United States Air Force “Richard McSpadden was a very accomplished pilot, and a trusted colleague, friend, son, husband, and father” the group said in a message on its website.
In 1975 after playing at Oregon Russ Francis was a first-round choice of the Patriots. Before retiring after the 1980 season, he made three Pro Bowls and was named to 2nd second-team.
In 1982, he returned to the NFL and was transferred to San Francisco, where he stayed six seasons and won a Super Bowl.
After being discarded in 1987, Russ Francis returned to New England and played his last 12 games for the Pats in 1988
After his college career in Oregon, Russ Francis spent more than a decade in the NFL. He was drafted in the first round in 1975 by the New England Patriots. In his first stint with the club, he was named a second-team All-Pro twice and earned three Pro Bowl nods. Russ Francis, who briefly retired after the 1980 season, was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and proved to be an essential part of the franchise that won Super Bowl XIX in the 1984 season. In 1987 Russ Francis then returned to the Patriots and played his game. remaining three seasons with the franchise. He is a member of the New England Patriots All-1970s Team.
393 catches for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns during Russ Francis career. Francis ranks 21st all-time in catches and 16th in receiving yards with the Patriots, and 30th and 32nd in those categories with the Niners.
