FILE: On Sunday, February 11, 1980, at Boston Garden, NFL football player Russ Francis of the New England Patriots smiles during a press conference. Authorities said on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, that former NFL tight end Russ Francis, who was selected for three Pro Bowls by the New England Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, died in an aircraft crash with another aviation enthusiast. The single-engine plane the two men were in crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in upstate New York. Francis served as president of the charter and scenic aviation company Lake Placid Airways. (AP Image/File)

FILE: On September 12, 1976, in Foxboro, Massachusetts, during the first half of an NFL football game, Russ Francis (81), of the New England Patriots, runs against Derrel Luce of the Baltimore Colts. Authorities said on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, that former NFL tight end Russ Francis, who was selected for three Pro Bowls by the New England Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, died in an aircraft crash with another aviation enthusiast. The single-engine plane the two men were in crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in upstate New York. Francis served as president of the charter and scenic aviation company Lake Placid Airways. (Chet Magnuson, File/AP Photo)

FILE-Russ Francis (81) of the New England Patriots runs for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders on December 18, 1976, during an NFL football game in Oakland, California. Raiders player Willie Brown (24), on the right. Authorities said on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, that former NFL tight end Russ Francis, who was selected for three Pro Bowls by the New England Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, died in an aircraft crash with another aviation enthusiast. The single-engine plane the two men were in crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in upstate New York. Francis served as president of the charter and scenic aviation company Lake Placid Airways. (AP Image)

FILE-Russ Francis of the San Francisco 49ers catches a 28-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana in the second half of an NFL football game on Saturday, December 31, 1983, in San Francisco. The game was played in the NFL. Authorities said on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, that former NFL tight end Russ Francis, who was selected for three Pro Bowls by the New England Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, died in an aircraft crash with another aviation enthusiast. The single-engine plane the two men were in crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in upstate New York. Francis served as president of the charter and scenic aviation company Lake Placid Airways. (Paul Sakuma, File/AP Photo)

AP/LAKE PLACID, N.Y. Authorities said on Monday that former NFL tight end Russ Francis, who was selected to the Pro Bowl three times with the New England Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, died in a small plane crash that occurred after the aircraft took off from an airport in upstate New York, along with another aviation enthusiast.

In a single-engine Cessna 177, Francis, 70, and Richard McSpadden, 63, had just taken off from Lake Placid Airport on Sunday just after 4 p.m. when the aircraft suffered technical difficulties. The plane struck an embankment at the airport’s corner, according to the New York State Police.

Francis served as president of the charter and scenic aviation company Lake Placid Airways. According to the airline’s website, he had operated a charter service in Hawaii and had been a pilot for about 50 years. He was a lifelong aviation enthusiast. McSpadden was regarded as an authority on aviation safety and served as senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. According to the organisation, he held the position of U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds leader during a period of his career.

Francis, who played in New England until 1980 after being selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 1975 draft, was a member of both the 35th anniversary squad and the 1970s all-decade team. From 1977 to 1979, he was selected to the Pro Bowl three times in a row.

Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, stated in a statement that “Russ was a fan favourite throughout his playing career.” In addition to being a tremendous player on the pitch, he had a huge personality off it. He pushed the envelope, knew no bounds, and fully experienced life.

Francis became a member of the San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and played a key role in the team’s 1984 Super Bowl victory over Miami. In 1987, he went back to New England, and the following year, he retired. He totaled 40 touchdowns and 5,262 yards from 393 receptions.