Richard McSpadden, senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute, and former National Football League star Russ Francis were killed Oct. 1 when their single-engine Cessna 177 Cardinal crashed after takeoff from Lake Placid Airport, New York, according to AOPA and media reports.

An accomplished pilot and former commander of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, McSpadden was seated in the right seat of the Cessna when the airplane experienced an emergency after takeoff, AOPA said. Francis, a former star player with the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers, had recently purchased the Lake Placid Airways scenic tour business, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported.

The pilots attempted to return to the airport but failed to make the runway. The airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain at the end of the runway, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The NTSB said it was investigating the crash, which occurred at about 4:09 p.m. local time.

A commercial-rated pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours in various civil and military aircraft, McSpadden was appointed executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Institute in February 2017 and promoted to senior vice president in July 2020. He served as industry chair of the industry-government General Aviation Joint Steering Committee.

McSpadden is survived by his wife, Judy, a son, Grant, and a daughter, Annabel.

“Richard was a very accomplished pilot, including serving as commander of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds during his military career, a trusted colleague, friend, son, husband, and father,” the AOPA said. “Our thoughts are with Richard’s family at this time.”