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 confirms the fatal crash of AOPA VP Richard McSpadden Jr. and Russ Francis in a Cessna 177RG during a photo mission, with witnesses reporting engine surging and lack of full power after takeoff before they attempted to return to the airport.
Initial wreckage examination revealed significant mechanical issues including loose fuel servo hold-down nuts, a fractured idle adjustment rod, and a bent throttle knob, which are being investigated as potential contributors to the reported engine problems.

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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.