NTSB: McSpadden Reported Problem Before Fatal Crash | Aviation International News

NTSB: McSpadden Reported Problem before Fatal Crash

McSpadden had been on air-to-air photography mission

Richard McSpadden — Richard McSpadden (Photo: AOPA)

By Gordon Gilbert • Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

October 27, 2023

During a sudden “hard right turn” before the fatal crash of a Cessna Cardinal 177RG on October 1, the pilot-rated passenger, AOPA senior executive Richard McSpadden, was quoted to have transmitted, “We have a problem and we’re returning to the airport,” according to the NTSB preliminary report. Also killed in the accident near New York’s Lake Placid Airport was former NFL player Russ Francis, president of Lake Placid Airways and referred to in the report as the aircraft pilot/owner.

The purpose of the flight was to take air to air photographs of the Cardinal. A Beech Bonanza A36 with a photographer onboard, took off first, followed by the Cardinal. “The pilot/owner was to fly the airplane during the takeoff and climb out,” said the report. “After joining up in formation, the pilot-rated passenger would have taken over the controls and flown the airplane during the photo shoot.”

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