Patriot Great Russ Francis Killed in Plane Crash - He Was 70 Years Old

Patriot Great Russ Francis Killed in Plane Crash - He Was 70 Years Old

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise is reporting that “The two people killed in an airplane crash at the Lake Placid Airport on Sunday have been identified as Russ Francis, a former NFL tight end who recently purchased the Lake Placid Airways scenic tour business at the airport and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden.”

One of those who died in the crash is former New England Patriots great Russ Francis.

“The crash happened around 4:09 p.m. at the end of a runway, close to the North Elba Athletic Fields. Lake Placid emergency services, New York State Police, Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad and state Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers responded,” said the paper.

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Francis was a tight end for thirteen seasons in the NFL. He played for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.

Francis finished his NFL career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.