NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on McSpadden Accident

The NTSB has released its preliminary report on the accident that killed AOPA vice president of safety Richard McSpadden Jr. and former NFL tight end turned FBO owner Russ Francis.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, October 20, 2023 at 07:36 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's preliminary report details the fatal crash of a Cessna 177RG carrying AOPA VP Richard McSpadden Jr. and Russ Francis during a photo mission in Lake Placid, New York, after witnesses reported engine issues and a distress call.
Initial wreckage examination revealed significant findings, including loose hold-down nuts on the fuel servo and a fractured threaded rod for the idle thumbscrew adjustment, with the investigation ongoing for a final determination of the cause.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report on the accident that killed AOPA vice president of safety Richard McSpadden Jr. and former NFL tight end turned FBO owner Russ Francis. The pair died on October 1 in Lake Placid, New York.

McSpadden, 63, and Francis, 70, were flying a Cessna 177RG that belonged to Lake Placid Air Service. The purpose of the flight, where McSpadden was in the right seat, was a photo mission for AOPA magazine.