Two-time Super Bowl winner Russ Francis dies as plane “loses power”

Russ Francis and Richard McSpadden were flying a Cessna 177 when power issues caused the fatal crash. They were 70 and 63, respectively.

Todd Gunther, an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board said, “The engine apparently lost power. The pilot, or pilots in this case, turned back toward the runway.”

According to ESPN, Francis and McSpadden had just taken off from Lake Placid Airport when the plane ran into trouble, causing the two to attempt to return to the runway.

Upon attempting to re-land, the plane clipped a berm at the end of the runway and fell into a ravine that was at least 30 ft. deep, according to Gunther.

ESPN is reporting multiple witnesses heard Francis and McSpadden’s radio call in which they claimed to have a problem.

The flight was part of a planned photo shoot for the 1976 Cessna 177 the pair were piloting, with the photographer’s plane taking off first and Francis’ plane following.

Russ Francis was a veteran pilot, running charter flights from Lake Placid Airport, where he served as the president of Lake Placid Airways.

Russ Frances was a first-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 1975, spending five seasons with the Pats before moving to San Francisco and helping the Niners win two Super Bowls.